An Appraisal of Age and Sex-related Changes in Selected Smile Parameters in North Indian Population

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the changes in buccal corridor and smile index, with respect to age and gender, in a randomly selected sample of the North Indian population. Materials and Methods Perioral musculature of 195 subjects (divided into three age groups) was recorded using standardized videographic method. The frame representing subject’s “widest posed smile,” was selected and analyzed to evaluate selected smile parameters. Results Buccal corridor decreased significantly for overall as well as female sample population, whereas it was fairly unchanged for males. No significant variation was noted for smile index. Conclusions As a person ages, the smile gets narrower vertically as well as transversely, with the change being greater in the transverse dimension. Age-related changes must be considered for delivering long-lasting orthodontic results.