Clinical and practical aspects of the gingival smile. A questionnaire-based survey

Introduction: One of the main elements of facial esthetics is represented by the smile. A harmonious proportion between the elements of facial esthetics is an important subject of interest in dentistry. Aim of the study: This research aims to evaluate the impact of the gummy smile on future dental practitioners. Materials and Methods: A survey containing 16 questions was designed to find out the students’ perceptions about the ideal smile and if the gingival smile is considered youthful or unpleasing. The impact on their self-esteem, their willingness to change the gummy smile or not, the nonsurgical and surgical methods of treatment were also evaluated. Results: 212 answers were recorded and analyzed. Nearly three quarters (70.3%) of the respondents believe that having a gummy smile is unesthetic, while only 29.3% considered it to be a sign of youth. Self-esteem can be affected by having a gingival smile, but, according to the results, most of the students (45.8%) said that their daily lives have not been affected by it, 40.6% said that in a small amount, 10.4% said that their self-assurance has been very affected and only 3.3% admitted that the gummy smile distressed their confidence. When asked if they were willing to correct their gingival smile, 51.4% were open to improving it while 48.6% would not change it. Conclusions: Among dentistry students, excessive showing of the gums is believed to be unesthetic rather than a sign of youthfulness. The respondents are generally not affected in their daily life by having a gummy smile. Education regarding the methods of correcting it still needs to be addressed amongst future dental practitioners.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/asmj-2023-0012