THE GOLDEN PROPERTION

BY DR. RAHUL
PG STUDENT
DEPARTMENT OF ORTHODONTICS AND
DENTOFACIAL ORTHOPAEDICS
 CONTENT
-Introduction
-Clinical significance
-Examples of some of the esthetic principles
-Symmetry , dominance and propertion
-Golden percentage
-Conclusion
-References
 Introduction
• Golden Proportion has been suggested as
one possible mathematic analysis tool for
assessing dominance and proportion in the
frontal view of the arrangement of
maxillary teeth.
• It has proven to be controversial in
developing esthetically beautiful smiles and
cumbersome for evaluating symmetry
• Esthetics – the branch of philosophy
dealing with beauty
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This considers a bilateral analysis of apparent individual

tooth width as a percentage of the total apparent width of
the anterior segment and

It proposes the concept of the Golden Percentage as a

more useful application in diagnosing and developing
symmetry, dominance, and proportion for esthetically
pleasing smiles
As dental decay decreases,' as A public desire for improved
dental esthetics increases; and
as dental restorative materials and techniques improve, the
nature and scope of dental treatment is evolving to
emphasize elective cosmetic treatment
Examples of some of the esthetic principles

Smile line placement

minimized negative space,
axial inclination graduation,
incisal embrasure gradation,
and gingival frame contour are used in smile design
SYMMETRY, DOMINANCE, AND PROPORTION

Lombardi described the importance of composition and

unity for the perception of a pleasing smile.

Just as the arrangement of individual objects within a

painting contributes to its composition and unity, the
arrangement of individual teeth in a smile determines their
esthetic impact as well.
 SYMMETRY :

An esthetically pleasing smile tends to exhibit a high degree of

symmetry across the midline

Teeth evenly positioned in a balanced arrangement within the arch

individually contribute to the appear- ance of a unified whole.

By contrast, an asymmetrical arrangement of teeth appears irregular,

imbalanced, or haphazard
A perspective view of a fence provides additional insight into smile
composition principles . The fence boards are an example of a
regressive series.

Each individual fence board appears proportionally smaller in the

distance. A frontal perspective view of an arch of teeth also
represents a regressive series.

The curvature of the dental arch reveals less and less of each tooth
toward the distal. The less a tooth is visible, the smaller and less
important it appears within the display
GOLDEN PROPORTION

The apparent width differences cre- ated by a

perspective view of fence boards, an arch of teeth, or
any other regressive series of objects can be analyzed
mathematically.

Formulae can be generated to predict a con- stant

ratio in the apparent diminish- ing size of the
repeated elements
One such constant is the Golden Proportion. Like any constant factor
used to determine the ratio between two parts, the Golden Pro- portion
mathematically describes the ratio between a larger and a smaller
length.
The Golden Proportion, however, is unique in that the ratio of smaller
length relative to the larger length is identical to the ratio of the larger
length to the total length in fig

The illustration demonstrates the presence of this ratio within the

segments of a pent- agon. The ratio AB:BC = the ratio AC:AB. The
ratio is 1.618:l.O.
Dentists have proposed that the Golden Proportion is
prevalent in a comparative analysis of the dimensional ele-
ments of beautiful faces and beautiful smile.

The Golden Proportion is considered a “starting point” in

designing the relative width of teeth in a beautiful smile.
Whether or not the Golden Proportion is absolutely and
dogmatically required for a beautiful smile is still unclear.

Golden Proportion is not an absolute determinant of

optional esthetics,

it is unquestionably a useful tool for initially evaluating

dominance and proportion in tooth arrangement and cos-
metic dental treatment planning.
Classically, the application of a Golden Proportion analysis is based
on the apparent mesiodistal width of the anterior teeth (from distal
height of contour to distal height of contour) when viewed from the
frontal aspect

Typically, the presence or absence of the Golden Proportion within

a smile is evaluated by measuring the anterior teeth from the frontal
aspect and then dividing the apparent mesio- distal width of the
central incisor, lateral incisor, and canine by the apparent width of
the lateral incisor.

Usually the central incisor appears wider than the lateral, yielding a
ratio greater than 1.0. The ratio of the width of the lateral to itself is
always 1.0. If the arrangement of teeth is “in Golden Proportion,”
then the 1.618:l.O ratio for anterior teeth yields the relative widths
of 1.618:1.0:0.618 for the central incisor, lateral incisor, and canine,
respectivel
Unfortunately, Golden Proportion analysis traditionally
has been applied unilaterally-correlating the width of the
canine and central incisor to the width of the lateral
incisor on the same side.

Unilateral analysis of a smile presents an obvious

difficulty: it allows for analysis of dominance and
proportion but not symmetry
Figure shows how unilateral Golden Proportion evaluation may
generate confusing computations if the mesiodistal width of the
lateral incisors differs. In this circumstance, the central incisors can
be measured to determine that they have identical widths. However,
the lateral incisors appear to have different widths, owing to
malalignment and overlap.
As a result, differential numeric ratios are obtained for the relative
proportion of the two central incisors, despite the fact that they are
identical in width,

A, Malaligned arch form displaying central incisors with identical

widths. B, Unilateral Golden Proportion analysis produces different
ratio results for the central incisors-even though they have the same
width.
One final difficulty in applying the Golden Proportion analysis is
that it requires a caliper and calculator to complete.
It may be conceivable for a clinician to “eyeball” a ratio of 1.6 18:l
.O, but it certainly is not convenient.
These examples demonstrate how unilateral calculations provide
no meaningful numeric assessment of symmetry and, therefore, no
quantifiable recommendation for the development of unity and
balance required for an esthetically pleasing smile.

Clearly, for the Golden Proportion to be most useful in cosmetic

dentistry, it must be adapted for easy bilateral analysis of the teeth.
Dominance
• One shape, color should dominate
Others subservient
•
• E.g the maxillary central incisor is the most dominant tooth
by virtue of it’s visible size
Not maxillary cuspid as only mesial side is visible
• Mouth is the dominant feature of the face

•
Proportion
• Golden proportion is ideal guide
• Disadvantages
• Unfortunately applied unilaterally
• Malaligned teeth, overlap, diastemas
• Requires calliper and calculator
 Golden percentages
• Calculated as total sum / individual
ratio i.e.
0.618+1+1.618+1+0.618=6.472/
individual ratio
• 10%-15%-25%-25%-15%-10%
• Does not depend upon lateral
incisors only but the individual
tooth’s contribution to whole
• Teeth with identical width generate
identical %
• Asymmetry clearly identifiable and
quantifiable
The Golden Percentage clearly is more useful in analyzing esthetic
properties of the smile:

Instead, it evaluates the width of each tooth for its contribution to

symmetry, dominance, and proportion of the entire anterior segment.
generate identical percentages in the analysis.

Percentages of 25% of the canine to canine width for a single central

incisor (or 50% for both central Teeth with identical widths
incisors) can be readily analyzed chairside during routine
examination and are easily estimatedwithout calipers or calculators.
TABLE 1 CONVERTING GOLDEN PROPORTION TO
GOLDEN PERCENTAGE

Maxillary Tooth Golden Proportion Ratio Golden Percentage Calculation (Ratio)

Right canine 0.6 18 0.618/6.472 (10%)

Right lateral incisor 1.ooo 1.000/6.472 (15%)
Right central incisor 1.618 1.61U6.472 (25%)
Lett central incisor 1.618 1.6 18/6.472 (25%)
Left lateral incisor 1.ooo 1.00W6.472 (15%)
Left canine 0.6 18 0.618/6.472 (10%)

Total 6.472 6.47Y6.472 ( 100%)

Narrower arch forms curve back rapidly through the lateral incisors
and canines as the transition occurs into the posterior segments.

Narrower arches would predictably display lateral incisors and

canines that comprise a smaller percentage of the perceived canine-
tocanine width relative to the central incisors.

Therefore, these arches would appear to have more dominant central

incisors. Arches with width percentages that approximate the Golden
Percentage would have more dominant central incisors and would
imply a dental arch that is relatively narrower.
Wider arch forms curve back slowly in a “delayed” transition into
the posterior segments.

From the frontal aspect, the lateral incisors and canines in wide
arches are necessarily ‘flattened out” to form the relatively gentle
turn.
In a wide curvature the lateral incisors and canines would display
a more facial orientation when viewed from the frontal aspect.

Wider arches would predictably display lateral incisors and

canines that comprise a larger percentage of the perceived canine-
to canine width relative to the central incisors. Therefore, these
arches would appear to have less dominant central incisors.
 Conclusion
Although the precise percentage of 10%:15%:25%:25%:15%:10%
are required for anterior tooth width ratios to be “in Golden
Proportion,” further studies are required to validate if those exact
percentages are required to create the most subjectively beautiful
smiles.

Future studies with carefully designed methods that objectively

determine quantifiable width ratios in subjectively beautiful smiles
will undoubtedly determine exactly what percentages are truly
“golden.”
Nevertheless, the analysis of apparent anterior tooth width
as a per- centage of total canine-to-canine width is more
useful and applicable in diagnosing and creating symme-
try, dominance, and proportion for esthetically pleasing
smiles.

The principle of the Golden Percentage in evaluation and

treatment planning appears to be of significant benefit in
esthetic smile design
REFERENCES

1)Textbook of contemporary orthodontics -

WILLIAM R PROFFET 6TH edition

2) Esthetic Smile Analysis of Maxillary

Anterior Tooth Width: The Golden
Percentage- STEPHEN R. SNOW, DDS*
(J Esthet Dent 11:177-184,1999)
THANK U …