Evaluating and Establishing Ideal Smile Esthetics : Beauty is More than Skin Deep
Tooth Shape

While both short and long teeth compromise esthetics, the width:length ratio of teeth also influences the perception of smile esthetics. The average vertical dimension of maxillary central incisors is 10.6mm and 9.8mm in males and females, respectively.^13,14 Short clinical crowns can be a result of tooth fracture, attrition, altered passive eruption, or gingival overgrowth. Longer clinical crowns may be caused by gingival recession, improperly designed dental restorations, or other anatomical concerns. The golden proportion (1.618) is conserved throughout nature and can also be applied to teeth. In dentistry, the mean width:length ratio for teeth is 78% and a range of 75-80% judged as esthetically pleasing.¹⁵