Evaluation of smile attractiveness perception and self-aesthetic perception among dental students at different levels of education

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the aesthetic perceptions and self-aesthetic perceptions of dental students at different educational levels.
MATRERIAL and METHOD: This study included 388 students enrolled in the Faculty of Dentistry at Harran University during the 2024–2025 academic year. The survey was completed anonymously using Google Forms on mobile phones. The survey consisted of four sections. The effects of grade level and gender on students’ perceptions of smile attractiveness and self-aesthetics were evaluated. Additionally, the impact of participants’ satisfaction with their own appearance on their evaluations of the dentofacial images included in the survey was examined.
RESULTS: The responses of the 388 students who agreed to participate in the study were analyzed. The participants’ ages ranged from 17 to 34 years, with an average age of 21.5 years. In the second section of the survey, statistically significant differences were found between female and male participants on 6 out of 13 questions assessing self-esthetic perception. Significant differences were observed among upper-year students regarding topics such as the desire to modify their smile and the influence of social media. Compared with male participants, female participants reported lower of satisfaction regarding tooth size, shape, alignment, and lip harmony. In contrast, perceptions of tooth whiteness were found to be similar between genders. In the final section of the survey, a statistically significant difference was detected only in relation to changes in the zenith points of the front teeth (p < 0.05)
CONCLUSION: While responses related to aesthetic awareness and the desire to change one’s smile were more common among upper-year students, female students reported lower self-aesthetic satisfaction. Minimal gum visibility and an ideal midline position were the most preferred smile characteristics across all grade levels. The fact that upper-year students more frequently preferred a narrow buccal corridor suggests a possible relationship between educational level and the perception of buccal corridor aesthetics