title: Incisors' proportions in smile esthetics.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether alteration of the maxillary central and lateral incisors' length and width, respectively, would affect perceived smile esthetics and to validate the most esthetic length and width, respectively, for the central and lateral incisors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photographic manipulation was undertaken to produce two sets of photographs, each set of four photographs showing the altered width of the lateral incisor and length of the central length. The eight produced photographs were assessed by laypeople, dentists and orthodontists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alteration in the incisors' proportion affected the relative smile attractiveness for laypeople (n=124), dentists (n=115) and orthodontists (n=68); dentists and orthodontists did not accept lateral width reduction of more than 0.5 mm (P<0.01), which suggests that the lateral to central incisor width ratio ranges from 54% to 62%. However, laypeople did not accept lateral width reduction of more than 1 mm (P<0.01), widening the range to be from 48% to 62%. All groups had zero tolerance for changes in central crown length (P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All participants recognized that the central incisors' length changes. For lateral incisors, laypeople were more tolerant than dentists and orthodontists. This suggests that changing incisors' proportions affects the relative smile attractiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Science, Orthodontic Division, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Alsulaimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dental Science, Orthodontic Division, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Waeil
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Batwa
keywords: Attractiveness; esthetics; incisors; smile