The Perception of Smile Arc and Buccal Corridor in Medical and Dental Undergraduate Students of Peshawar, Pakistan: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: To compare smile aesthetics perceptions, focusing on components such as smile arc and buccal
corridor, between pre-clinical medical and dental students.
Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Medical and Dental Education for
undergraduate students of Peshawar Medical and Dental College, Peshawar, Pakistan from June 2023 to
January 2024.
Methods: Using Cochran's formula, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 196 participants
using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Undergraduate medical and dental students aged 21
to 28 from specific colleges in Pakistan were included. Participants evaluated digitally altered images of a
female undergraduate student's smile using a 7-point Likert scale. An independent t-test was applied to
compare perceptions among the two groups.
Results: Among 196 participants, 143 (72.96%) were female, and 53 (27.04%) were male, with a mean age of
25.0±1.96 years. Dental students were exclusively comprised of females, while medical students had a higher
male proportion (54.08%). A comparison of buccal corridor perception between pre-clinical medical and dental
students showed that dental students generally rated wider corridors less favorably. Significant differences
were observed at 5 mm and 15 mm corridors (P=0.017 and P=0.044, respectively). A significant difference was
observed for the widest corridor (25 mm) (P=0.001). A comparison of smile arc perception between pre-clinical
medical and dental students revealed no significant difference in the ideal smile arc (P=0.412). However,
significant differences were found for the flat smile arc (P=0.005). No significant difference was observed for
the reverse smile arc (P=0.307).
Conclusion: Preclinical medical and dental students have different perceptions of smile aesthetics, particularly
regarding buccal corridor width and smile arc.

How to cite this: Naz S, Adil S, Islam Z, Raza HA, Khan S, Ahmad W. The Perception of Smile Arc and Buccal Corridor in Medical and Dental Undergraduate Students of Peshawar, Pakistan: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study. Life and Science. 2025; 6(2): 242-247. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.682