Perceived Smile Attractiveness by Undergraduate Students Across Different Disciplines.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to examine differences in perceiving smile attractiveness between undergraduate students across different university disciplines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Undergraduate students pursuing dentistry, pharmacy and psychology volunteered to participate in the study based on an extended invitation by the study contributors. Then, the students were informed about the protocol to follow as participants in the study in a scheduled session, whereby 24 modified images were presented, and smile-attractiveness ratings were sought on a 6-point Likert scale. The data were organised to examine differences in smile attractiveness perception among students with respect to factors such as discipline, skin tone in images and the tooth shades presented. The data were analysed using a three-factor ANOVA with a Bonferroni post hoc test at all levels, with α = 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 106 participants provided their perceived smile attractiveness ratings across the disciplines, dentistry (46), pharmacy (47) and psychology (13), with a mean age of 21.7 ± 1.68 years. A statistically significant difference was observed overall and with independent factors (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant interaction between the disciplines and students' VITA tooth shade perception, as indicated by smile attractiveness ratings (p = 0.002). Dark skin tone was distinctly perceived (p < 0.05) by the students (irrespective of discipline); however, the fair and medium skin tones remained undifferentiable in the students' ratings (p > 0.05). The dental students demonstrated the potential to distinctly identify differences in tooth shades, as evidenced by smile attractiveness ratings, compared to students from other disciplines (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Undergraduate students across different university disciplines perceived smile attractiveness differently, with dental students discerning variations between tooth shades.