Influence of social media and corrected smile photographs in patients with malocclusion

Abstract

The increased use of social networking sites, such as Instagram (Meta Platforms, Menlo Park, Calif), has been silently affecting facial satisfaction among patients. However, the potential of Instagram to motivate participants for orthodontic treatment when used with an adjunct, a photograph editing software, is yet to be assessed. From the initial 300 participants, 256 were included and randomly divided into an experimental group (participants were asked to provide their frontal smiling photograph) and a control group. The photographs received were corrected using photograph editing software and were shown along with other ideal smile photographs in an Instagram account to the experimental group, whereas the control group participants had access to only the ideal smile photographs. After browsing, the participants were given a modified version of the Malocclusion-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Questions assessing the general perception about one's smile, comparison with peers, desire to undergo orthodontic treatment, and the role of socioeconomic status showed a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) as most of the control group participants were unsatisfied with their teeth, had less desire to undergo orthodontic treatment and did not feel family's financial income to be a hurdle, contrary to the experimental group participants. A statistically significant difference (P<0.05) was also seen in assessing external acceptance, speech difficulties, and the influence of Instagram on orthodontic treatment, whereas the influence of photograph editing software did not show the same. The study concluded that the experimental group participants were motivated to undergo orthodontic treatment after viewing their corrected photograph.