Assessment of the influence of gender and skin color on the preference of tooth shade in Saudi population

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of gender and skin color on the preference of different teeth shades in general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two standardized frontal smile photographs of male and female subjects were manipulated using photoshop to represent 4 skin colors [(type II, III, IV, and V) (Fitzpatrick scale)]. The teeth shades under each skin color were digitally manipulated to represent one of 6 teeth shades (BL1, BL2, BL3, BL4, B1 and A1). A questionnaire assessed demographic characteristics (age, nationality, gender, education level, occupation, and income) along with the satisfaction of their smiles. Male and female set of pictures with combination of skin colors and teeth shades were presented and participants were asked to select the most esthetically pleasing teeth shade with regard to gender and skin color. Cross-tabulations and chi-squared tests were used to perform the statistical analyses (α = 0.05). RESULTS: Three hundred and thirty-six (60.4% male; 39.6% female) individuals participated in the study. The difference in the preferred teeth shades was significant among the male and female photographs across all skin colors (p < 0.05). Lighter teeth shades were preferred among female subjects compared to male subjects with the same skin color. In addition, lighter teeth shades were preferred among subjects with a lighter skin color and vice versa (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Gender and skin color influences the perception of teeth shades among general population. Therefore, lighter tooth shades (BL1, BL2) for lighter skin color and comparatively darker tooth shades (BL4, B1, A1) for darker skin individuals should be prescribed as these are perceived as natural among Saudi population.