A Comprehensive Survey of Natural Smile Perception

ABSTRACT Objective: To comprehensively analyze smile perception by examining various smile parameters and identifying potential group differences. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted utilizing a photographic-based electronic survey. Participants' demographic data were collected, and their perception of smile photos, altered across 12 parameters, was assessed using a Likert scale. The study included laypersons, dental students at different academic levels, and dental professionals. Statistical analyses were performed to analyze ratings and determine group differences. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results: A total of 435 participants completed the survey. Neither ordinal regression nor linear regression yielded any significant associations between individual photos and perception across groups (p>0.05). However, chi-square analysis revealed six events with statistically significant differences among groups, with laypersons exhibiting significant differences in four of them (p=0.009, p=0.012, and p=0.017). Conclusion: The limited statistically significant differences in perception between the study groups could be a consequence of the naturally-looking photo edits that may have posed challenges in recognizing subtle alterations and eye fatigue from viewing numerous duplicate photos. Future research should address such limitations to enhance our understanding of smile perception across diverse groups.