Objective: Retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the correlations between the components of the Objective Grading System developed by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) and smile esthetics in class I extraction Vs non extraction cases of south Indian population.
Methods: The clinical photographs of 40 orthodontically treated patients(20 extraction and 20 non extraction cases) with skeletal class I malocclusion and average mandibular plane angle(age group 13± 30) were rated by a panel of 12 orthodontists (8 men and 4 women). One of the investigators, scored the posttreatment dental casts and panoramic radiographs of all patients according to the guidelines of the Objective Grading System. The relationship between the occlusal outcome and perceived smile attractiveness of the subjects were evaluated by a Pearson product-moment correlation. Logistic regression was used to determine whether the individual component or total combined scores of the ABO Grading System could predict whether a smile could be considered “attractive” or “unattractive” by the panel of raters.
Results: Extremely weak relationships were found among all factors of the ABO Objective Grading System and perceived smile attractiveness, neither total scores nor individual components of the ABO Grading system could predict attractive or unattractive smiles.
Conclusions: This study suggests that additional criteria might be incorporated into the assessment of overall orthodontic treatment outcomes, including variables evaluating the smile.