Evaluation of black spaces between maxillary central incisors by dentistry students and laypeople

This study aimed to compare the perception of smile esthetics and alterations among dentistry degree students and laypeople to identify differences in the esthetic perception of black spaces between the maxillary central incisors among Turkish laypeople and students in different study years. Photographs altered to include black spaces of various sizes at the midline were evaluated by 208 dentistry students in years 1-5 and 45 Turkish laypeople. Perceptional differences in different photographs were statistically significant. The students in years 2-5 were more aware of differences between photographs than year 1 students and laypeople. The proportion of participants who decided the most attractive photograph as A was highest among 3rd year students, followed by 5th year students. However, the proportion of students agreeing on the least attractive image was highest among 4th year students, followed by 3rd year students. Photographs A and H were selected as the most and least attractive, respectively, by all participants. The esthetic perception of 1st and 2nd year dentistry students was very different from that of laypeople. To increase esthetic perception among dentistry students, specific lessons with clinical photography should be included in dental education.