COMPARISON OF PERCEPTION FOR THE GINGIVAL DISPLAY BETWEEN DENTAL PROFESSIONALS AND NON-PROFESSIONALS

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the mean perception scores of gingival display between dental professionals and non-professionals. METHODOLOGY A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at Rehmat Memorial Hospital, Abbottabad, involving 60 participants: 30 non-professionals and 30 dental professionals, aged 18 to 50 years. Using non-probability consecutive sampling, individuals with intellectual disabilities, color vision deficiency, or dental training were excluded. Standardized photographs of a female subject were digitally edited in Adobe Photoshop CS6 to simulate gingival display levels ranging from 0 to 5 mm. Evaluators viewed each image for 1 minute and rated it on a 10-point visual analog scale, with 00 indicating the least attractive and 10 the most attractive. Dental professionals included general dentists without orthodontic specialization, while non-professionals were patients with no prior orthodontic treatment or dental education. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare group differences. Stratification was done based on age, gender, and education level. RESULTS The mean age of dental professionals (33.73±5.15 years) was slightly higher than that of non-professionals (31.70±7.63 years), but not significantly (p=0.23). Gender distribution and educational backgrounds were comparable. Overall, non-professionals favored minimal gingival display, while dental professionals were more tolerant of increased gingival exposure. CONCLUSION Non-professionals and dental professionals differ significantly in their perception of gingival esthetics. These differences show the importance of patient-centered treatment planning and individualized aesthetic goals.