title: Perception of altered smile esthetics among Moroccan professionals and lay people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and compare the impact of altered smile characteristics on the perception of smile esthetics between Moroccan dentists and lay people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four digital smile photographs displaying alterations in crown length and width, lateral incisor gingival margin position, gingival exposition, midline diastema, and upper midline deviation were presented to a sample of 30 dentists and 30 lay people. The ratings were assessed with a visual analog scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to that of lay people, Moroccan dentists' evaluation of the gingival smile was more critical when the decrease in central incisor crown length was 2.5 mm (p< 0.001) or greater and when the increase in gingival exposition was 4 mm or greater (p< 0.01). Moroccan dentists were also critical in their evaluation of maxillary lateral incisor crown width alterations (p< 0.05) and incisal midline deviations (p< 0.05). However, the professionals and lay people similarly evaluated irregularities in the incisor gingival margin position. Increases in the midline diastema were judged critically by both Moroccan dentists and lay people.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this sample, Moroccan dentists evaluate smile esthetic alterations more critically than Moroccan lay people. This difference in perception of smile discrepancies must be taken into account during the finishing phases of orthodontic treatment and restoration of the anterior teeth in Moroccan patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ousehal
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aghoutan
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chemlali
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Faculty of Dentistry, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: I Filali
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Anssari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Talic
keywords: Dentist perception; Lay people; Orthodontists; Patient perception; Smile esthetics; Visual analog scale