2010 Interdisciplinary Meeting - Smile Esthetics / Esthetics and Quality of Life: Does One Predict the Other?

This presentation will focus on the science and art of smile esthetics. By demonstrating patient preference data for smile variables from different facial perspectives and with faces of different facial attractiveness and cultures, guidelines will emerge that can aid practitioners in helping their patients reach their personal goals. The second portion of the presentation will demonstrate how to achieve those goals. Finally, smile esthetics will be placed in a larger perspective.

Learning Objectives:

• The evidence related to multiple variables related to smile esthetics
• The methods required to provide the desired clinical outcomes related to smile esthetics

There has been increasing focus on the impact of conventional and surgical orthodontic treatment on general and oral health-related quality of life (QoL and OHQoL respectively). Both clinicians and researchers are concerned about this association; to what extent does malocclusion affect a child or adults quality of life, and more importantly, what effect does correction of the malocclusion have on patients QoL and OHQoL? This presentation will first address the definition of QoL and how esthetics, specifically orofacial appearance, may or may not be related to QoL. Research by the speaker and others on the association between QoL, OHQoL, and malocclusion and its treatment will be discussed briefly, concluding with recommendations for assessing this link and other effects of orthodontic treatment on patient well-being.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand components of quality of life and commonly used QoL and OHQoL measures
• Attendees will be able to analyze the role of esthetics on QoL and whether improved esthetics following conventional and surgical orthodontics also improves a patients general and oral health-related QoL
• Clinicians will be better equipped to discuss with their patients what to expect following treatment regarding improved occlusion and dentofacial balance on patients QoL, OHQoL, body image, and self-confidence