ABSTRACT
AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of labial and dentogingival characteristics on facial and smile attractiveness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different close-up photographs each of six women models with different labial and dentogin-gival characteristics were obtained. One of the models was considered standard. Photographs were arranged in an album were evaluated by 100 laypersons, and 30 dentists who ranked each close-up of the models from according to the degree of attractiveness from first to sixth place, with first being the model considered most attractive and justified the reasons for choosing. RESULTS: The standard model received the best scores for both lips (7.75) and face (5.18). Medium-sized lips were preferred (p < 0.05), and the smile positively or negatively interfered with esthetic perception depending on the dentogingival alteration present. Diastema was the alteration that had the greatest negative influence. CONCLUSION: Not all dentogingival alterations interfere with esthetic evaluation. The lips are not decisive in facial attractiveness. Attraction is assessed significantly differently by laypeople than by dentists. The smile directly influences the analysis of facial beauty. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dentogingival alterations may be imperceptible, especially when evaluating the facial joint, so its correction will not always be necessary.
