Perception of Dental Midline Deviation Amongst Dental Professionals and Lay People

Abstract

Objective:  This study was conducted to evaluate the perception of midline coincidence as a determining factor in smile aesthetics.

Methods: A single of a female smile was intentionally altered with a software program (Adobe Photoshop, CS5. 1990-2010, Adobe system incorporated). The alteration involved shifting the upper midline by 0.5mm to the left in four variations. These altered images were then rated by two groups, 30 in each  group,  the  professionals  and  the  lay  persons  using  a visual analogue scale.

Results: There  was  a  statistically  significant  difference between the professionals and the laypeople in the perception of  midline  coincidence  as  a  factor  in  assessing  smile aesthetics, (p=0.038, T=2.1).

Conclusion: The  orthodontists,  general  dentists,  other professionals  and  the  laypersons  detected  specific  dental aesthetic discrepancies at varying levels of deviation.

Keywords: Midline Coincidence, Facial aesthetics, Perception