Abstract
BACKGROUND: Each patient may have a different idea of a beautiful smile. Also, during treatment, periodontists, restorative dentists and general dentists should be aware that their personal views on the beauty of a smile and their degree of sensitivity in the perception of beauty changes may differ, and this difference may affect the treatment process. PURPOSE: This research seeks to evaluate how alterations in the shape and position of the gingival margin in maxillary anterior teeth influence the perception of smile aesthetics among different groups including periodontists, restorative dentists, general dentists, and non-professionals. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 raters in four groups (n= 15) of periodontists, restorative dentists, general dentists, and non-professionals. The raters received 10 photographs including one original and 9 altered images, and they were asked to rate them regarding smile aesthetics. Data were analyzed by the Kruskal-Wallis, Fisher's exact, and t-test (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: All four rater groups gave the highest score to the original image and the lowest score to the asymmetrical changes on shape and position of the gingival zenith; the statistical difference in this regard was significant in the group of periodontists, restorative dentists, and general dentists (p< 0.05) but not in non-professionals (p Value> 0.05). Males were more sensitive than females in the detection of changes in shape and position of the gingival margin; however, the statistical difference was only significant for images showing an asymmetrical change on the right or left side (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: A significant difference in opinion was seen among periodontists, restorative dentists, and general dentists regarding the effect of the shape and position of the gingival margin of maxillary anterior teeth on the perception of smile aesthetics, highlighting the need to reach an interdisciplinary consensus prior to gingivectomy and aesthetic crown lengthening procedures.