Dental Esthetic Perceptions Research Articles

Dental Aesthetic Perception of Dentistry Students: A Literature Review

The appearance of a smile has increasingly become a factor that significantly impacts an individual's self-esteem and social context. Consequently, there is a growing desire for changes in the oral region to achieve what is considered an ideal smile, particularly in light of new beauty standards, where white and aligned teeth are deemed highly relevant. However, the concept of beauty is highly subjective, and sometimes dental standards do not align with patients' aesthetic desires. This study aims to evaluate the dental aesthetic perception of dentistry students through an integrative review. For the reference framework, we searched articles from the PubMed and Lilacs databases from the past five years, using the keywords "Dental esthetic," "dental student," and "Smiling," with the Boolean operator "and." After a thorough reading of all the articles, nine studies were selected. This review showed that the level of education and gender presented differences in the perception of dental aesthetics. However, students generally agree that aesthetics must be associated with the health and naturalness of the smile, following dental anatomy, dental alignment, buccal corridor, level of gingival exposure, and color.

Influence of education level and gender of dental students on perception of dental aesthetics

BackgroundFulfilling aesthetic norms is an imperative of modern society. Accordingly, aesthetics has found its important role in dental medicine. The aim was to study whether there is a difference in the perception of tooth shade change and anatomical variations of anterior maxillary teeth among dental students depending on the level of education, gender, and experience in assisting in a dental office.MethodsThe research was conducted among dental students via the Google Forms platform. Students evaluated the aesthetic acceptability of a smile on the unaltered, reference photograph (RP) and on the other 28 photographs in which the tooth shade (lighter and darker teeth), length (shortened central incisors, elongated, and beveled lateral incisors, elongated canines) and position (atypical and typical rotations and diastemas) of the upper maxillary teeth were altered by digital manipulation. The 1–10 assessment scale was used. Statistical analysis comprised one-way Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, X2 tests, t-test, and 3-way MANOVA.ResultsIn the research 208 students participated, 113 were preclinical students, 104 assisted in dental office and 175 were females. There were no significant effects of gender regarding length and position modifications (p > .05), while women were stricter in evaluation of lighter shade (p < .05). Clinical students were stricter in evaluating all manipulated photographs (MP) except those towards darker shade modifications, while assisting in a dental office or having a dentist in close family showed no significant effects (p > .05).ConclusionsWith a higher level of targeted academic education, dental students sharpen their ability to notice deviations from the aesthetic norms of a smile.

Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment using the Versatile 2 x 4 Appliance: A Case Report

The mixed dentition period is considered one of the most ideal ages for undergoing interceptive orthodontic treatment. Children possess a higher perception of dental esthetics. Dental malocclusions were found to affect the self-esteem of the children. American Association of Orthodontics recommends that a child can undergo orthodontic treatment at the early age of 7 years. Certain malocclusions can be corrected during the mixed dentition period aids in the normal growth of jaws and surrounding structures. This article describes successful management of a case with angles class I malocclusion with upper anterior proclination treated using 2 x 4 appliance. The 2 x 4 appliance is a partially fixed orthodontic appliance that is used in children in a mixed dentition period to correct simple malocclusions associated with permanent anterior teeth.

Should midline diastema in mixed dentition be an aesthetic concern?

Mixed dentition determines an important period of occlusion development in childhood. This study aimed to evaluate the aesthetic impact of the midline diastema cut-off point in mixed dentition. A cross-sectional study was performed with 257 children aged 8-10 years in late mixed dentition, with midline diastema of 1-5 mm and normal maxillary overjet. Orthodontic Aesthetic Subjective Impact Score determined the aesthetic impact of the midline diastema. Four quartiles of diastema measurements and impact scores were considered as cut-off points. Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were constructed, and the distances representing the distances to the ideal point were calculated. The Yuden index determined the efficiency of measuring the diastema to assess the aesthetic impact. The Kruskal-Wallis test compared the groups of participants classified according to the diastema cut-off by the sample quartile regarding the impact score. The analyses were performed with a significance level of 5%. There was no significant difference between the four groups of measurement quartiles of the diastema regarding the aesthetic impact (P > .05). The perception of dental aesthetics in mixed dentition children was not affected by the midline diastema, regardless of the cut-off point.

Evaluation of the Perception of Aesthetics in the Joint Prosthesis Department of the University Hospital Center of Odontostomatology (C.H.U.O.S) in Bamako

Tooth loss is, for the majority of patients, a strong physical and psychological disorder. The objective of this study was to evaluate the individual perception of dental aesthetics among patients received for joint prosthetic rehabilitation in the prosthesis department of the CHU-OS of Bamako. This was an epidemiological, descriptive and prospective study. The survey lasted 5 months, from April to August 2013. The population studied is made up of all the people seen in the prosthesis department. The variables studied were socio-demographic (sex, age) and clinical variables (reason for consultation, color, shape and position of teeth, personal appreciation of aesthetics, smile identification, patient satisfaction). The data obtained were entered and analyzed with SPSS version 20 software and processed with Word 2013 software. We examined 218 patients and the distribution according to sex showed a predominance of women with 67% with a sex ratio of 0.49. The study highlighted the youth of our population with 34.86% of people who are between 25 and 34 years old. In this study, white and well-positioned teeth are the dental aesthetic criteria most sought after by patients with respectively 91.3% and 54.6% of cases considering the position of the tooth always in association with the color as an important element in the aesthetics of a smile. The disability of edentulism opens up a psychological dimension that the practitioner must understand. It is a global care of the patient with his doubts and anxieties.

The influence of age and gender on perception of orofacial esthetics among laypersons in Switzerland

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the perception and role of orofacial esthetics by laypersons, and how attitudes may be correlated with age and gender in Switzerland.Material and MethodsSelf‐administrated questionnaires (SAQ) were distributed both conventionally and digitally to Swiss residents over 16 years of age (range 16–99 years). The participants were identified in the medical practice, at an open house of the ZMK Bern, in elderly care centers, and via the internet (Facebook and Instagram). To verify that the participants were Swiss residents and laypersons, they were checked by an operator (conventional) or were provided an exact description of eligible participants at the beginning of the SAQ (digital). The SAQ included 30 questions with multiple‐choice responses and visual analogue scales (0–100) divided into four sections regarding dental appearance with respect to body esthetics, partner selection, employment and career opportunities, and overall health/quality‐of‐life. For statistical analysis, respondents were segregated into two age groups (<25 years and ≥25 years) and into two gender groups (male and female). Descriptive analyses, the Fisher exact test, and Welch's t‐test were applied (α = 0.05).ResultsFive hundred and two laypersons completed the SAQ. The study's hypothesis—that various age groups and genders have different perceptions of dental esthetics—was supported. The willingness to correct one's own dentition was lower among older participants (OR: 0.54; p = 0.001); charisma and dental esthetics were considered equally important with a trend toward charisma in both age groups (p = 0.003). The belief that excellent dentition improves employment chances at a job interview (OR: 0.47; p = 0.0003) was significantly lower among older participants, and the belief that dental correction would improve quality‐of‐life was significantly higher among older participants (OR: 1.81; p = 0.001). The assumption that individuals with attractive teeth appear happier was significantly lower among older respondents (OR: 0.67; p = 0.03). Women were less satisfied with their dental appearance and, proportionally, their willingness to receive correction was significantly higher (OR: 1.79; p = 0.01 and OR: 1.77; p = 0.002 relative to men, respectively). Moreover, male participants had a lower desire to have brighter teeth and undergo bleaching treatments (OR: 0.54; p = 0.002; OR: 0.53; p = 0.002). The proportion of men believing that having beautiful teeth improves attractiveness and employment chances was significantly lower (OR: 0.33; p = 0.02 and OR: 0.66; p = 0.04; respectively).ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this observational study, it was concluded that age and gender of laypersons in Switzerland have a significant impact on the perception of dental esthetics.Clinical SignificanceEvaluating and quantifying perceptions of dental esthetics for daily life across various age groups and genders can improve clinicians' understanding of individual needs in order to offer patient‐oriented dental care.

Effect of Social Media on Patient's Perception of Dental Aesthetics in Saudi Arabia.

Introduction Social media became an influential tool that affects people's way of communication and became a significant source of information for the society. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of SM on patients seeking aesthetic dental treatment. Methodology. The study employed a large-scale online survey of 1940 patients attending and/or seeking dental treatment at KAUFD and Jeddah private clinics. The targeted age of participants ranged from 18 years and above. The study data were collected using a three-part questionnaire. Results More than half of the patients were females in both groups (52.7%). The majority of patients used SM for communication and entertainment purposes. It was also found that the most popular platform used by patients was Snapchat (71.1%), followed by Instagram (66.9%). A lot of patients did not like their teeth appearance (38.5%). Moreover, patients preferred to have “bleaching” as an aesthetic treatment to improve their smiles (63.8%). Conclusion The impact of SM on Saudi Arabian citizens and Saudi Arabia residents can be considered as high. Patients are influenced by SM applications and are seeking aesthetic treatment as an outcome. It is the responsibility of dentists to educate patients about the best treatment options.

Perception of Dental Aesthetics among Dental Students; a Cross-sectional Study in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background: Dental aesthectics is now a necessary area in the field of dentistry, and new graduates' perceptions should be investigated. Hence the present cross-sectional study aimed to assess the perception about dental aesthetics among clinical interns, dentistry interns, and pre-clinical interns in dental colleges on Saudi Arabia.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: The study subjects comprises of all above three (clinical interns, dentistry interns, and pre-clinical interns) groups volunteered from different colleges. Perception about dental aesthetics was measured using a 14 item questionnaire. Chi-square test was performed on SPSS to determine the statistically significant differences (p&lt;0.05) across gender and dentistry level.&#x0D; Results: Findings revealed 61% of the participants were male while 39% were female. Among them, 26% were pre-clinical interns, 41% were dental interns and 33%were clinical students. All the particiants reported some kind of dissatisfaction with appearance of their teeth and males were more satisfied and confident about their teeth and smile than females.&#x0D; Conclusion: To conclude, in the present study male participants and clinical students were confident about their smile as compared to female while dental interns thought others have good smile. The study reported the significant gender differences on looking at magazines, having whiter teeth, they way gums look and putting hand over mouth while non-significant differences across dentistry level.

Perception of Smile Aesthetics : A Cross-Sectional Comparative Evaluation of Senior Dental and Medical Students

Objectives: Acquiring the ability to identify deviations in dental aesthetic norms has been considered as an essential skill for the development of a dental professional. The timing and quality of this development of aesthetic perception has not been explicitly discussed in the dental education literature. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of dental training on the development of smile aesthetic perception, and to compare this perception between dental students and medical students in a similar cohort. Methods: One-hundred dental and medical students were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire, designed to evaluate eight images; using a visual analogue scale (1 least attractive; 100 most attractive). The students rated the smile aesthetics of one ‘model’ smile image, and seven digitally modified smiles representing major variations in smile features. Data were analyzed using the independent student’s t-test. Results: forty-four male and fifty-five female participants were successfully recruited, with a response rate of 99%. Dental students’ ratings of smile aesthetics were significantly lower than medical students for seven of the eight images (p < 0.05). This difference was greatest for the model smile image, and least for the diminutive lateral incisors image. There were no statistically significant gender-related differences. Conclusions: Within the limitation of this study, the dental curriculum has a significant impact on developing students’ perception of dental aesthetics. Longitudinal studies with larger samples sizes, are needed to examine if progress through the dental curriculum affects students’ perception of dental aesthetics.

Influence of Dental Education on the Perception of Dental Aesthetics among Undergraduate Dental Students in a Nigerian University

Background: Literature has shown the existence of difference in perception of esthetics between dentists and lay people. Could this difference be attributable to undergraduate dental education? This study aims to determine the influence of dental education on the relative perception of dental aesthetics among undergraduate dental students.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out amongst all dental students attending a Nigerian University. The dental aesthetics selfperception questionnaire originally designed by Goldstein was administered to subjects. The data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Independent sample t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to compare means across groups. Due to the multiple comparisons a post-hoc test (Bonferoni) was carried out with the one-way analysis of variance. Chi square was used to determine association between variables with p set at 0.05.Results: A total of 132 students participated in the study. Majority (91.7%) were self-confident about smiling. More than half (54.5%) of the respondents believed there was someone with a better smile. With regards to wish of whiter teeth, 67.4% wished their teeth were whiter. The aesthetic self-perception scores of the respondents ranged from 0-12 with a mean score of 4.28± 2.64. There was no statistically significant association between the mean aesthetic self-perception score and the level of study of the participants.&#x0D; Conclusion: A positive aesthetic self-perception was observed in dental students when it comes to their smile. However, there was no statistically significant association between the level of study of the respondents and the self-perception of dental student.&#x0D;

A Comparative Study on the Perception of Dental Esthetics of Laypersons and Dental Students

Abstract Introduction: Esthetic dentistry aims to create a harmonious smile that is well integrated with the facial architecture of the patient. A good understanding of the patient’s esthetic perception is important when designing a smile. Materials and methods: 106 subjects, 51 patients 54 dental students took part in the study. Each subject was asked to evaluate 10 pictures showing frontal aspect of real cases. They were asked to rate the aesthetics of the clinical cases on a scale from 1 to 5. An open question was associated with each picture, where the subjects were asked to describe what they like and what they do not like about the picture. Results and discussions: The overall mean esthetic rating of dental students was 2,68, while the laypersons’ rating was 2,98. Crowded teeth are more often criticized by patients, while dental students consider that slight crowding give a more natural appearance and individualize the teeth. The presence of diastema is observed by dental students even when it is discrete. The discrepancy between maxillary and mandibular dental midline is more easily observed by dental students. Discolored teeth lead to low aesthetic scores for both groups of subjects. Dental students gave lower esthetic scores to restorations with uniform colour, while laypersons appreciate white restorations. The limited height of papillae is considered unattractive by dental students, while laypersons hardly notice this aspect. Conclusions: This study showed several differences in the aesthetic perception of dental students and laypersons. Students were generally more critical and gave lower scores than laypersons. They also observed and criticized more aspects regarding the smile.

The association between perception of dental esthetic and oral health related quality of life in adolescents in Dammam, Saudi Arabia

ObjectiveTo access the association of dental esthetic perception with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among adolescents in Dammam the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted on intermediate and high school students in Dammam the Eastern region of Saudi Arabia in the form of questionnaire during February–March 2018. The schools were randomly selected using cluster sampling and students in each school were invited to participate in the study. The students with physical or mental disability were excluded from the study. The perception of dental esthetic was measured by the Arabic version of the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES-Ar) on a 5-point Likert scale with ‘unsatisfactory’(1) to ‘excellent’(5). OHRQoL was measured by the validated Arabic version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form (COHIP-SF 19). Pearson correlation test was performed to investigate an association between esthetic perception and OHRQoL. ResultsThere were 846 (51.6%) female and 792 (48.8%) male students with mean age14.5 ± 1.6 years in the study. The mean score of perception of esthetic of the sample was 31.44 ± 5.09 which indicates a moderate self-perceived esthetics score (range 8–40). The mean score of OHRQoL was 20.21 ± 11.85 which demonstrates a low quality of life among study participants (range 0–76). The study found a statistically significant correlation between the perception of dental esthetics and oral health related quality of life (Pearson correlation coefficient = −0.573, P.

Children and adolescents preference of different orthodontic appliances in Makkah province, Saudi Arabia: a comparative study

Background: Children and adolescents show a different perception of dental esthetics. This study aimed at comparing the esthetic perception of different orthodontic appliances between children and adolescents living in Makkah province, Saudi Arabia and links their preference to differences in age, gender, and socioeconomic status. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried among 234 subjects categorized into two groups according to age range 6–12 and 15–18 years old selected randomly from six different schools of Makkah and Jeddah province, Saudi Arabia. A chart of photos of five different orthodontic appliances was introduced to each subject to choose the most suitable esthetic device in their opinion supported by a self-administered questionnaire. The data collected were entered using Microsoft Excel program. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package of the Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical program version 17. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as a level for significance. Chi-Square test was used to evaluate the difference of esthetic perception of different orthodontic appliances between two age groups. Results: Among the 234 subjects studied the age groups 6–12 years old contributed 49.6% and the age group 15–18 years old contributed 50.4% of the total subjects. The chi-square analysis showed a significant difference in esthetic perception of different orthodontic appliances between the two age groups, the majority of children (49%) choose a metallic appliance with colored elastics as they look attractive 49.6%, while adolescents choose regular metallic brackets 47.4%. Other factors, such as gender, socioeconomic status, previous orthodontic treatment, and family history of orthodontic treatment did not show any significant statistical difference. Conclusion: The patient preference for selection of orthodontic appliances was found to be affected by age. The study finding could be taken into consideration during the treatment planning to improve patient cooperation.

Changes in dental esthetic perceptions of patients subjected to in-office tooth bleaching

Objective: This study evaluated changes in the esthetic perceptions of patients subjected to in-office tooth bleaching. Material and Methods: Fifty participants included in a clinical trial evaluating the in-office tooth bleaching answered two questionnaires about their dental esthetic perceptions. The participants answered the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES) questionnaire and the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) before and after treatment. The average scores observed at baseline were compared with those recorded after tooth bleaching using the paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed rank test (? = 0.05). Results: Improvement in tooth color (reduction of 5.1 shade guide units) had a positive impact on patients’ perceptions. According to PIDAQ, tooth bleaching significantly increased the psychological impact and dental self-confidence; and reduced esthetic concerns. The OES demonstrated improvements in participants’ satisfaction for all questions, except for the one on “facial appearance”. However, higher effect size was observed for the question related to tooth color, as expected. Conclusion: Tooth bleaching was associated with an overall improvement in dental esthetic perception, even when only tooth color was affected.KeywordsPatient-reported outcomes; Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials; Tooth Bleaching.

The Perception of Dental Esthetics Assessed by Prosthodontic Residents and UAE Recognized Specialists in Prosthodontics

Introduction: Smiles can be improved by veneering teeth using a relatively conservative technique. The appearance of veneers and smile design has not been previously investigated in the UAE. This study aimed to assess the aesthetic preferences of different smile designs rated by a group of prosthodontic residents and specialists. Methods: A questionnaire was devised asking about demographic details such as age and gender as well as clinical experience before and after graduation. Images of ten cases who had ceramic veneers fitted on their anterior teeth were included in the questionnaire. There were two images for each case: smiling with lips shown and close-up with retracted lips and cheeks. A total of seven questions regarding the appearance for each case were posed to each rater. Each question had a 5 point Likert rating scale from poor to excellent. All residents in prosthodontics at HBMCDM and UAE recognized specialists in prosthodontics were invited to participate. The specialists were recruited from the DHA/CPQ database. Result: A total of 25 dentists rated the 10 cases. There were 12 residents and 13 specialists, 40% were from the UAE and 60% from other countries. The residents were significantly younger than the specialists with mean ages of 29.4 years and 43.0 years respectively (p&lt;0.001). Ten raters were male and 15 female. An overall amalgamated mean score was calculated for each case by summing all 7 individual scores for the 7 questions by rater. Males rated case 8, visible papillae following lip contour, significantly more highly than females (p&lt;0.004). The overall ranking of the 10 cases was determined by gaining a mean % score for each case by summing the Likert scores for all seven questions and dividing by the maximum score of 35 per case. Both the residents and specialists agreed that case 9 (long teeth contacting the lower lip) was the most pleasant (68%) and that case 5 (midline discrepancy) was the most unattractive (39%). Overall, cases 9 and 6 were the most pleasing and cases 5 and 10 were the most displeasing. Conclusion: The residents and prosthodontic specialists were mostly in agreement when rating the esthetics of several different smile designs. Symmetry and the upper lip just covering the upper gingival margins were the most pleasing whilst a non-coincident midline and gingival inflammation were deemed the most unattractive.

Width/Length Ratio in Maxillary Anterior Teeth. Comparative Study of Esthetic Preferences among Professionals and Laypersons.

Many studies have examined the esthetic preferences of professionals in the maxillary anterior region; however, only a few have taken into account the ratios that are more frequent within the population or other ratios suggested in the literature as ideal. Previous studies also failed to compare them with the esthetic preferences of the lay population with regards to the smile. The purpose of this study is to highlight the differences when perceiving the esthetics of smiles between general dentists and laypersons, and linking them with the width/length of the maxillary anterior teeth. Photographs of the full face of a female subject were modified with Photoshop CS regarding the length/width relationships of the 6 maxillary anterior teeth. The three modifications made were: (a) 80% length/width, (b) 85%, length/width, and (c) 85% length/width in central incisors, 80% length/width in lateral incisors and canines. Three sequences of photograph pairs were created with different ratios and presented in PowerPoint to a sample of 100 general dentists and 100 laypersons. The ratio considered as the most esthetic by the majority of the judges was 85% for central incisors and 80% for lateral incisors and canines, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the esthetic preferences of the studied populations either due to gender or professional experience of the dentists (p > 0.01). According to the results obtained in this study, professionals and laypersons considered a width/length ratio of 85% for maxillary central incisors and 80% for lateral incisors and canines as the most esthetic for maxillary anterior teeth. These results do not support findings from other studies previously published with similar ratios in central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines. Today clinicians practice in a treatment environment where not only function and utility but also esthetics is demanded in almost every procedure. Restoring/maintaining function is considered essential in any restorative dentistry treatment, but the esthetic aspects of any treatment should never be forgotten. This study was motivated by the increasing importance of obtaining a better appreciation of the perception of smile beauty, and of the role of maxillary teeth width/length ratio on the perception of dental esthetics.

Diagnosis of Esthetic treament

To improve esthetics and gain beautiful smile, the maxillary anterior dentition is crucial. Through alteration of height, arrangement or color of the maxillary incisor, we can rehabilitate the esthetic smile. The perception of dental esthetics is highly subjective. Personal perceptions or judgement of dental esthetics is highly related with each individual's experience and social and cultural environment. However, there have been many efforts to establish the criteria for generally accepted esthetic norm, in order to increase the predictability of restorative treatment. For maxillary anterior restoration, not only a single tooth, but also the compositions around tooth such as facial form, lips and gum and their relationships have to be considered to create harmonious smile. It can be determined as esthetic restorations when in consonance with facial form and structures that frame the restorations. In this review article, several guidelines that are generally accepted and useful to assess the esthetics and communicate with patients and technicians will be discussed.

A comparative study of aesthetic perceptions of malocclusion among general practice dentists, orthodontists and the public using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the IOTN-AC.

BackgroundPerception of malocclusion varies among individuals and among patients and practitioners. Although several indices that tend to coincide in many aspects and unify criteria, no single index has been recognised as the most suitable for assessing orthodontic treatment need. Moreover, orthodontists are not always aware of the differences in perception of malocclusion between patients and practitioners.ObjetivesTo examine the perception of dental anaesthetics amongst dentists, orthodontists and the general population, study the relationship between the perception of dental aesthetics and the severity of the malocclusion, using the visual analogue scale and the IOTN-AC, and investigate relationships among the resulting data.Study DesignFrontal intraoral photographs of 24 cases were classified by the severity of their malocclusion according to the DAI index. The photographs were examined by 150 individuals (30 orthodontists, 30 general dental practitioners and 90 members of the general population), who assessed them on a visual analogue scale and according to the IOTN-AC.ResultsThe orthodontists gave the lowest scores on the visual analogue scale, although the differences between the three groups were not significant. For DAI grades 1, 3 and 4, significant differences were found in the IOTN-AC assessments. Here too, the orthodontist group was the most critical.ConclusionsIn general, in all three groups, both the visual analogue scale and IOTN-AC scores increased or decreased in line with the severity of the malocclusion according to the DAI. However, the correlation between these scores was low. The orthodontists scored the malocclusions more critically than the general dentists or the general population with the IOTN-AC, but this difference was not found with the visual analogue scale. Key words:IOTN-AC, DAI, malocclusion.

Dental esthetic perceptions and orthodontic treatment needs among school children aged 9–18 years of South Bengaluru: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: Individual perception of malocclusion may vary from the clinician's point of view. Assessment of individual perception of malocclusion is important for treatment planning, priority setting, allocation of resources, as well as for patient education and motivation. Aim: To assess the perceptions of orthodontic treatment needs of school children and to find out the correlation, if any, between the subjective treatment need perceived by children and the objective need. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among school children of South Bengaluru aged 9–18 years. The study was cross-sectional in design, and a convenience sampling method was adopted. The clinical examination was conducted using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) modified for use in epidemiological surveys (Modified IOTN). Chi-square/Fisher's exact test has been used to find the significance of study variables at 5% level of significance. Results: Among the participated children, 21% needed orthodontic treatment and among 79% of children there was no need for treatment according to the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the IOTN. There was a significant correlation between the subjective need for treatment and the IOTN-DHC. Conclusions: There exists a significant correlation between the subjective need for orthodontic treatment assessed using the index and the objective need perceived by the patient. Hence, it is necessary to evaluate the perceptions of subjects before beginning of any treatment planning to meet the expectations of patients in general as it is the patient who gains satisfaction from treatment.

Evaluation of factors affecting dental esthetics in patients seeking orthodontic treatment

Aim: It is not well documented which dental traits predominantly motivate patients to seek orthodontic therapy. This study was designed to recognize anterior occlusal traits that impact the perception of dental esthetics in patients with different types of malocclusion seeking orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty-five pairs of intraoral photographs belonging to patients with various malocclusions were selected for this study. Each pair of photographs included a frontal view and a right-side view of the patient's occlusion at maximum intercuspation. A total of 60 laypersons (30 males and 30 females) were requested to rate the overall appearance of the dentition in the photographs, using a 100 mm line that served as a visual analog scale. The study models of the patients were evaluated by a single investigator to determine the amount of overjet, overbite, crowding, and midline deviation. A multiple linear regression analysis was employed to detect the dental features that predicted the overall attractiveness of the dentition. Results: The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that according to the judgment of female, male, and total female and male raters, overall dental attractiveness could be predicted by two features, the crowding of upper arch (P Conclusions: Dental attractiveness could be predicted by two main variables including upper anterior crowding and overbite. Sufficient priority should be accorded to these factors in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning to decrease the probability of misinterpretation of patients' expectation from treatment.