title: Variations between maxillary central and lateral incisal edges and smile attractiveness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we aimed to verify whether different levels of maxillary incisal edges influence the perception of smile attractiveness and whether gingival display affects this perception according to groups of orthodontists, dentists, orthodontic patients, and laypersons.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photographs of the smiles of 1 man and 1 woman showing the gingival contours of the incisors and the canines were digitally altered, creating steps from 0 to 2.0 mm in 0.5-mm increments, with and without gingival exposure. The 20 pictures were shown in random order to 240 evaluators divided into 4 groups who were asked to provide attractiveness scores on visual analog scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both the steps (P <0.001) and the gingival exposure (P <0.05) had statistically significant influences on the evaluations in all groups. There was also a statistically significant difference (P <0.001) between the evaluations of orthodontists and the other groups, with distinct patterns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most accepted vertical relationship of incisor borders was the 1.0-mm step. There were significant differences in the evaluation of orthodontists when compared with the other 3 groups, and no significant difference was detected between these groups. The gingival display altered significantly the esthetic perception of the smiles evaluated. There were significant differences between the evaluations of the smiles of the man and the woman.
authors: Postgraduate student, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Ricardo Martins
authors: RM
authors: Machado
authors: Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Maria Eduarda
authors: ME
authors: Assad Duarte
authors: Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Andréa Fonseca
authors: AF
authors: Jardim da Motta
authors: Professor and chair, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: José Nelson
authors: JN
authors: Mucha
authors: Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: alemotta@rjnet.com.br.
authors: Alexandre Trindade
authors: AT
authors: Motta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005881:Gingiva; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla; D012904:Smiling