Evaluation of esthetic parameters of the face and components of smile in children with deciduous dentition

In the present era, esthetics has become an important dimension in dental practice as parents and children are equally self-conscious of their appearance. Children now desire to possess an aesthetically pleasing smile. Harmonizing an esthetic smile integrates facial and dental components. Since the scientific data on pediatric esthetics are limited, the aim of the study was to evaluate esthetic parameters of the face and components of smile in children with deciduous dentition.: After fulfilling inclusion criteria, 3 sets of facial photographs of 100 children were obtained, comprising of frontal at rest, frontal smile and profile at rest images under standardised photographic technique. Linear measurements of facial and dental parameters were assessed with the help of Adobe photoshop and static norms were obtained by taking the average value. Subjective evaluation was performed by a group of professionals using Q-sort technique to list the attractive features in children.Static norms were obtained for facial and dental parameters. Attractive children showed decreased facial height, anterior lower facial height, vermilion height and bigonial width. They also displayed decreased smile index and buccal corridor ratio along with parallel smile arc and more than 3/4th of crown height visibility during smiling. Attractive children presented facial and dental parameters variable from normative values. : The study results can be utilised during restorative and prosthetic rehabilitation among children to improve esthetics.