title: [Smile in self-representation and self-esteem].
abstract: Does the smile play a part in the patient's self-esteem and social well-being? The assessment of the smile is part of the clinical examination and it contributes to the diagnosis. Other criteria besides quantitative or metric ones are considered in this work and make it original. Philosophical, psychological and sociological aspects have been considered to understand the role of the smile in human relationships and self-representation. The quest for beauty is universal but its assessment remains subjective even if attempts at objectivity have been made. Self-esteem is fundamental for the individual's mental and social well-being. A human being has to submit to the rules and customs of his fellow-men if he wants to be part of the society in which he lives. Even if some aesthetic standards cannot be skirted and seem to be universal, the reality of beauty is perverted by social diktats, so is the representation of the smile. It is therefore essential to listen to one's patient before considering his teeth.
authors.affiliation: Unité Fonctionnelle d'Orthopédie Dento-Faciale, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 place de l'Hôpital, 67 000 Strasbourg, France. eliselaurence@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Élise
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Guth
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bacon
mesh_terms: D001504:Beauty; D003469:Culture; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D012904:Smiling