A comparison of dental professionals’ and patients’ perceptions in assessing smile esthetics

Smile aesthetics is one of the primary reasons for patients to seek aesthetic dental treatment. Although various parameters have been proposed to evaluate smile aesthetics, objective and standardised criteria are still under discussion. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the perception of aesthetic changes differs between dental professionals and laypersons. Frontal photographs of 18 patients were selected from 81 patient photographs. Two full smile images of 18 cases were shown to 86 professionals and 86 layperson participants. Participants were asked to mark the most aesthetic smile and the most important criteria in making their decisions on the prepared forms. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for two-group comparisons and the Kruskal-Wallis H test for comparisons with three or more groups. The rate of choosing the aesthetic smile according to the SI was significantly higher in professionals (p < 0.05). In the non-professional group, teeth rate was significantly more often considered the main criterion for aesthetic smile discrimination (p < 0.05). The professional group placed greater emphasis on gingival appearance when evaluating smile aesthetics (p < 0.05). Aesthetic perception differed between professionals and laypersons. The Smile Index should be interpreted alongside other esthetic parameters and patient expectations.