Perception of an esthetical smile in relation to the buccal corridor

Abstract

Introduction: Assess the influence of esthetic parameters, in this case buccal corridors on the esthetics of smile when visually judged by laypersons.

Material & Methods: Buccal corridor was assessed on frontal smile photographs after taking  standard  3 pictures  which were judged by random 60 laypersons (30 males and 30 females) using Visual analogue scale (VAS). The VAS was marked least attractive, attractive and most attractive for the purpose of description and perceptive (subjective) categorizations.  

Results: According to the results of this study, perception level on visual analogue scale for narrow width buccal corridor photograph patient had gotten highest score whereas broad width photograph patient got the least attractive score by most of the judges who participated.

Conclusions:  Having minimal buccal corridor is esthetically accepted in both males and female while a larger buccal corridor is not accepted to be a norm and should be included in treatment planning as a part of problem list.