This study examined the effectiveness of three different aesthetic ranking systems. The Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (10 photographs), a numerical scale illustrated with three photographs and a numerical scale with only two photographs were assessed. Ten general dental practitioners ranked the attractiveness of dentitions using each aesthetic scale. A greater tendency to underscore was detected when the dentists used the two-photograph scale. Reducing the number of photographs in the aesthetic scale did not significantly improve the dentists ability to rank dental aesthetics.