Smile perception among dental students and interns: the role of gender and academic level

The increasing interest in cosmetic dentistry underscores the importance of emphasizing esthetic dentistry in undergraduate education, particularly smile analysis. Various factors influence smile perception, with gender and academic level being key determinants. This study was conducted to assess the association between the perception of esthetic smile components and demographic variables. This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Margalla Dental College Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, using a census approach including dental students and interns. Data were collected through a questionnaire featuring 23 colored photographs representing seven smile variables. Participants rated esthetic smiles using a 10-point visual analogue scale. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize sample characteristics. The Kolmogorov- Smirnov test was performed to assess data normality. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to evaluate associations between responses and variables. Data were reported as median and interquartile range (IQR) for each variable, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Out of 255 potential participants, 207 responded (81.17%). Male participants found wider buccal corridors, whiter teeth, an ideal smile arc, diastemas of 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm more attractive than female, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Pre-clinical students preferred wider buccal corridors, whiter teeth, a 0.5 mm reduction in maxillary central incisor length, and a flat smile arc compared to clinical students (p < 0.05). Education level and gender significantly influence the perception of esthetic smile variables among undergraduate dental students. Female and clinical-year students demonstrated a greater appreciation for certain smile variables than their male and pre-clinical-year counterparts.