Perception of smile attractiveness among laypeople and orthodontists regarding the buccal corridor space, as it is defined by the eyes. An innovated technique

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate whether there is a relationship between the distance between the iris and pupil with the ideal size of buccal corridors.Materials and MethodsA full‐portrait image of a male Caucasian was used to create a set of 11 digitally modified images with different buccal corridor space. A web‐based cross‐sectional study was designed and distributed via an online survey to 200 laypeople and 200 orthodontists to assess image attractiveness, using a Visual analogue scale. For the statistical analysis, Wilcoxon signed‐rank and Mann–Whitney U tests were used. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe response rate for laypeople was 70% (n = 139), while the rate for orthodontists was 73% (n = 146). For the layperson group, the maximum smile attractiveness score was 10% of buccal width reduction, compared to the iris‐pupillary distance, while for the orthodontists, it was 20%. The attractiveness of the smile was significantly reduced in both groups when the buccal corridor width was increased in comparison to the iris‐pupillary distance.ConclusionThe length between the mesial part of the iris and the distal of the pupil, may constitutes a landmark for the estimation of the desired width of the buccal corridor.Clinical RelevanceInter iris‐pupillary distance can be the starting point in the smile designing process, in order to perform a facial driven selection of buccal corridor size.