Banca de DEFESA: MARINA BOZZINI PAIES

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : MARINA BOZZINI PAIES
DATE: 28/05/2025
TIME: 08:30
LOCAL: Departamento de Odontologia - Auditório
TITLE:

Influence of Lower teeth Exposure on the Perception of Smile Aesthetics: A Cross-sectional Study

KEY WORDS:

 Incisor; Perception, Smile; Tooth esthetic; middle-aged patient.

PAGES: 83
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Odontologia
SUMMARY:

 

Increased lower tooth exposure during speech, at rest, and in spontaneous smile are results of natural aging. However, the scientific validation of the aesthetic influence of this pattern alteration on the spontaneous smile in middle-aged patients has not yet been evaluated. This cross-sectional study evaluated the impact of the lower tooth exposure in spontaneous smile in middle-aged patients, from the perspective of dentists and laypersons. Close-up frontal photographs of spontaneous smiles, digitally altered, of a male and a female model aged between 45 and 50 years were used. Six different images were created for each sex by altering the vertical position of the lower and/or upper teeth, with variations of 0%, 50%, and 100% with gingival exposure. The images were randomly inserted into a Google Forms platform and evaluated by 711 participants (175 orthodontists, 130 oral rehabilitators, 98 orofacial harmonizers, 156 general practitioners and other specialties, and 152 laypersons) nationally. Comparison between the images was performed using Kruskal-Wallis for group comparisons and Mann-Whitney for comparisons between two groups. The Friedman test was used to evaluate three or more smiles for the same evaluator, and Wilcoxon was used to compare two smiles against each other. The significance level was set at 5%. A total of 711 responses from laypersons and dental professionals were analyzed. For all groups, smiles exhibiting decreased upper tooth exposure and increased lower tooth exposure, characteristics resembling the aging process, resulted in aesthetic disadvantages. Similarly, even with upper teeth positioned favorably, an increase in the visibility of lower incisors rendered the smile less attractive, with the perceptual difference becoming significant for all evaluator groups when this exposure increased from approximately 50% to 100%, including gingival exposure. Furthermore, the greater attractiveness of the smile was found to be entirely dependent on greater exposure of the maxillary teeth, particularly when the lower incisor position was maintained. The age of the evaluators influenced the aesthetic perception in nearly all groups; younger individuals demonstrated more critical judgment. However, the orthodontist group proved to be the most sensitive, yet exhibited a consistent aesthetic perception regardless of their age or geographical region. Prior experience with complex dental treatments did not result in a statistically significant difference in the layperson group's perception for most evaluated smiles. Understanding these diverse perspectives is fundamental for patient-centered aesthetic treatment planning, enabling the alignment of expectations and the optimization of treatment outcomes and satisfaction.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 1459400 - ADRIANA DA FONTE PORTO CARREIRO
Interno - 1031499 - LAERCIO ALMEIDA DE MELO
Interna - 3294216 - PATRICIA BITTENCOURT DUTRA DOS SANTOS
Externo à Instituição - ALEXANDRE ANTONIO RIBEIRO
Externa à Instituição - LUANA MARIA MARTINS DE AQUINO