Does the gender of the subject affect perceived smile aesthetics when varying the dimensions of maxillary lateral incisors?

Does the gender of the subject affect perceived smile aesthetics when varying the dimensions of maxillary lateral incisors?

  • D. Tan, R. Playle, A. Harris, C. Tredwin & L. Addy

BDJ

volume

225,

pages

235–240 (10 August 2018) | Download Citation

Key points

  • Challenges the concepts of ‘golden proportion’ and ‘Recurrent Aesthetic Dental’ (‘RED’) proportion.
  • Demonstrates the limited role that gender plays in the perception of smile aesthetics
  • Informs dental health professionals that lateral incisor widths are to be tailored on an individual basis.

Abstract

Objective

To assess whether subject gender influences aesthetic opinion when altering the width of maxillary lateral incisors.

Method

Photographs of a male and a female smile, displaying only the lips and teeth, were digitally altered to produce images where the maxillary lateral incisor was proportioned 52%, 57%, 62%, 67%, 72% and 77% in relation to the width of the maxillary central incisor. The image was then made symmetrical. One hundred participants (50 male and 50 female) were asked to rank each set of photographs from ‘most’ to ‘least attractive’.

Result

The 57% lateral incisor was considered the ‘most attractive’ with the 77% lateral incisor the ‘least attractive’ however no statistically significant difference existed with relation to subject or rater gender.

Conclusion

Neither the ‘golden proportion’ nor the ‘Recurrent Aesthetic Dental’ (‘RED’) proportion was deemed the most attractive. As subject gender did not have a significant effect, dentists should work to create aesthetic results on an individual basis, operating within a so-called ‘golden range’.