Perception of Dental Rotation Discrepancies Among Dental Professionals and Laypersons: A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Aims To evaluate and compare the perception of rotational discrepancies of the permanent maxillary right central incisor among dental professionals and laypersons using standardized three-dimensional (3D) digital models. Material and Methods Participants assessed digital images of a 3D dental model via an online questionnaire. The model featured induced rotational discrepancies of tooth 11 at ±2.5°, ±5°, ±10°, and 0°. Participants were asked to indicate whether they detected a rotation. Accuracy rates were calculated, and chi-square tests were used to compare group differences ( α = 0.05). Results A total of 205 participants were included: 67 laypersons, 51 prosthodontists, 50 orthodontists, and 37 general dentists. Significant differences were found across groups in the detection of simulated rotations. Dental professionals showed higher accuracy in identifying rotational discrepancies, particularly at smaller angles. Orthodontists achieved the highest detection rates, accurately identifying rotations as small as ±2.5°, while laypersons typically failed to perceive discrepancies below ±10°. Statistically significant differences ( p < .05) were observed between orthodontists and laypersons at most rotation levels. General dentists and prosthodontists also outperformed laypersons, although with less consistency at lower degrees of rotation. Conclusion Dental specialists, especially orthodontists, are significantly more accurate in identifying minor rotational discrepancies of anterior teeth. In contrast, laypersons are generally only able to perceive larger deviations (≥10°). These findings underscore the critical role of professional expertise in the diagnostic and esthetic evaluation processes during orthodontic and restorative treatment planning.