Factors influencing patient satisfaction with dental appearance and treatments they desire to improve aesthetics

• Main Authors: Hassan Nurhidayati (Author), Saddki Norkhafizah (Author), Tin-Oo Mon (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2011-02-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/1472-6831-11-6; 1472-6831
• Keywords: Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: BMC Oral Health, Vol 11, Iss 1, p 6 (2011)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We assessed factors influencing patients' satisfaction with their dental appearance and the treatments they desired to improve dental aesthetics.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was performed out among 235 adult patients who visited the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia dental clinic. A structured, interviewer-guided questionnaire was used to identify patient satisfaction with their general dental appearance, cosmetic elements and desired treatments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 235 patients consisted of 70 males (29.8%) and 165 females (70.2%), of mean age 31.5 years (SD 13.0). Of these patients, 124 (52.8%) were not satisfied with their general dental appearance. In addition, 132 patients (56.2%) were not happy with the color of their teeth, 76 (32.3%), regarded their teeth were poorly aligned, 62 (26.4%), as crowded and 56 (23.4%) protruded. Dissatisfaction with tooth color was significantly higher in female than in male patients (odds ratio [OR] of 1.99 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-3.50). Tooth whitening was the treatment most desired by patients (48.1%). Results of multiple logistic regression analysis showed that patient dissatisfaction with general dental appearance was significantly associated with female gender (OR = 2.18; 95% CI: 1.18-4.03), unhappiness with tooth color (OR = 3.05; 95% CI: 1.74-5.34) and the opinion that their teeth protruded (OR = 2.91, 95% CI: 1.44-5.91).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Most patients in this study were not satisfied with their dental appearance with a greater percentage of females expressing dissatisfaction than males. An age was not associated with satisfaction. Unhappiness with tooth color and feelings of having protruding teeth also had a significant negative influence on patient satisfaction with general dental appearance.</p>