Attitudes to fluorosis and dental caries by a response latency method

Abstract

Understanding socially relevant attitudes to fluorosis and dental caries is important. Previous studies have concentrated mainly on aesthetic implications. To investigate social judgements beyond the aesthetic, made when viewing digitally manipulated extraoral images of dental fluorosis of varying degrees of severity and images of dental caries. Using a response latency technique, which allowed both the direction and strength of attitudes to be measured, 40 volunteers made judgements on 144 image/characteristic combinations. Participants made social judgements which extended beyond the aesthetic to factors such as sociability, reliability and cleanliness. Judgements on mild fluorosis were not markedly different from those made about the same individual with normal enamel, but severe fluorosis had a significant negative impact on social judgements. Untreated dental caries was judged less favourably than normal enamel and mild fluorosis. Attribution of characteristics that go beyond the aesthetic are significantly influenced by altered tooth appearance.