Tooth shape preferences in an esthetic smile.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of tooth shape to the esthetic smile.


METHODS
Restorative dentists (120), laypeople (102), and orthodontists (113) evaluated a series of color photographs of men's and women's smiles. The photographs were randomly presented to test the effects of 3 different shapes of maxillary incisors and canines on the same patient.


RESULTS
For women, orthodontists preferred round and square-round incisors (P < .01), and restorative dentists preferred round incisors (P < or = .03). Laypeople did not discriminate between incisor shapes. For men, all 3 groups preferred square-round incisors (P < or = .042). There was also a tendency for male judges to rate female images more attractive than did female judges.


CONCLUSIONS
Restorative dentists, orthodontists, and laypeople share similarities and display differences when considering esthetic preferences in tooth shape. Although there was no consensus in preference among the laypeople as a group, their preferences differed from those of the dental professionals.
Anderson
Kurt M
KM
Texarkana, Tex, USA.
Behrents
Rolf G
RG
McKinney
Thomas
T
Buschang
Peter H
PH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003481:Cuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D012904:Smiling