The Influence of Vertical Canine Position on Smile Esthetics: A Comparative Perception Based Study Among Orthodontists and Laypersons

Objective: The research investigates the unique effect of altering vertical canine positions on smile esthetics, focusing on a comparative analysis of perceptions between orthodontic professionals and laypersons.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi from September 2020 till August 2023. Hundred respondents were chosen to evaluate five smile photographs. Each photo, derived from a standard close-up, digitally modified to adjust the vertical position of canine tooth in 0.5mm increments. Respondents were tasked with rating the attractiveness of each image on a visual analog scale, ranging from one to five.Results: Orthodontist rated image A at 2 out of 5 (42%) and rating of 4 out of 5 by laypeople (36%) (P<0.000). Image B was rated 4 out of 5 by both orthodontist (48%) and laypeople (34%) (P=0.002). Image C received the highest score of 5 out of 5 from both orthodontist (66%) and laypeople (42%) (P=0.031). Image D garnered rating of 2 out of 5 from orthodontist (48%) and 3 out of 5 from laypeople (32%) (P<0.001). Image E rated 1 by 37 orthodontists and 15 laypersons. Most orthodontist (74%) rated image E as 1 and layperson 2 (32%) out of 5 respectively (P<0.001).Conclusion: Orthodontists exhibited higher sensitivity in evaluating smile esthetics compared to laypersons. The 0.5mm vertical intrusion of canine was perceived to be most attractive.