Smile esthetics in orthodontic: A review article

Abstract

In orthodontic treatment, esthetics has traditionally been associated with profile enhancement. Both the Angle classification of malocclusion and the cephalometric analysis have focused attention on the profile, without considering the frontal view. Even though patients come to us mainly to improve their smiles, the orthodontic literature contains more studies on skeletal structure than on soft-tissue structure, and the smile still receives relatively little attention. An attractive, well-balanced smile is a paramount treatment objective of modern orthodontic therapy. Extensive studies on facial features have resulted in the establishment of norms that orthodontists use as guidelines to evaluate facial forms and to direct therapy. Knowledge of the influence of orthodontic treatment on smile attractiveness is very important, and recently, some smile components such as midline position, axial midline angulation, buccal corridor, and smile arc have received greater attention.