EFFECT OF BUCCAL CORRIDORS WIDTH ON SMILE ESTHETICS

Abstract

Introduction: Soft tissue aesthetics are gaining an ever increasing importance in Contemporary orthodontic practice. The Esthetics of smile plays a major role in successful outcome of an orthodontic treatment. It is influenced by a number of factors, of which the extent of visible buccal corridor has a key role. The aim of this study was to compare buccal corridor widths in randomly selected subjects and evaluate the attractiveness of their smile.

Materials and Methods: Non probability purposive sampling technique was used. 60 subjects (30 male, 30 female) were selected with age ranging from 18 to 25. For each patient, a standardized picture was photographically analyzed and then presented to a panel of judges.

Results: The study showed that subjects with minimal buccal corridor width as determined by photographic analysis were rated more esthetically pleasing by both General Dentists & Orthodontists.

Conclusion: General Dental Practitioners and the Orthodontists both prefer smiles with minimum visible buccal corridors however the GDP were less discriminative on smile aesthetics related to BCWs than Orthodontists.