Smile Arc

When the maxillary incisal edges align with the inner contour of the lower lip at full smile, it is considered ideal. This positioning is often described as “consonant”.⁵⁶Younger individuals tend to display a more pronounced curvature of the incisal edges and lips during smiling and can straighten with age.⁵⁷ This association with youth may lead to the perceived desirability of such a relationship for optimal esthetics.⁵⁷Orthodontic treatment has also been associated with flatter smile arcs than those found in individuals with untreated dentition and normal occlusions.¹⁸ This flattening of the smile arc may inadvertently compromise overall esthetics post-orthodontic therapy.^18,28,58