UNDERSTANDING SMILE LINE AESTHETICS IN COMPLETE DENTURE WEARERS: A LAYPERSON-CENTERED APPROACH

Abstract

Background: Smile line aesthetics significantly influence the perceived attractiveness of complete denture wearers. Understanding the impact of age, gender, and layperson preferences on smile line perception is essential for optimizing prosthetic designs and enhancing patient satisfaction. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic distribution and aesthetic preferences of laypersons regarding smile line configurations in complete denture wearers.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 participants. Age and gender distributions were analyzed to assess demographic representation. Participants were presented with images of various smile line configurations, digitally altered to simulate differences in incisal coverage and gingival display. Preferences for the most and least attractive images were recorded. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions and percentages.
Results: The majority of participants (56.87%) were under 30 years, reflecting a predominant representation of younger individuals. Males accounted for 57.52% of the sample, indicating a slightly higher participation rate compared to females. Image F was rated as the most attractive smile line by 11.83% of participants, followed by images G (10.75%) and H (9.68%). Conversely, image I was identified as the least attractive by 11.83% of participants, followed by images J (10.75%) and H (8.60%). Image E elicited a neutral response, with minimal preferences for either attractiveness or unattractiveness.
Conclusion: Age and gender significantly influence aesthetic perceptions of smile lines, with younger participants and males being more prominently represented. Smile line configurations such as images F and G were perceived as attractive, suggesting potential benchmarks for prosthetic design, while less favorable configurations like images I and J highlight attributes to avoid. These findings emphasize the importance of personalized, patient-centered approaches in prosthetic dentistry. Further research is recommended to explore cultural and demographic variations in aesthetic preferences to refine prosthetic design guidelines.