Factors influencing dental appearance satisfaction in adolescents: a cross-sectional study conducted in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT

The perception of dental aesthetic appearance may affect social interaction and psychologicalstatus, influencing dental needs and the search for treatments. Aim: To investigate the satisfactionwith dental appearance and influencing factors among adolescents. Methods: The study was carriedout among adolescents aged 14 to 19 years attending a private high school in Brazil. Data ondemographic information, the perception of dental appearance, previous aesthetic treatments andwish to perform dental treatments were collected in the school. Data were analyzed using Pearson’schi-square test or Linear Trend. Multivariate analysis was performed using the Poisson regression.Results: A total of 531 adolescents (Response rate = 98.3%) answered the questionnaire. Theprevalence of dissatisfaction with dental appearance was 17.4%. Almost 65% had history of previousorthodontic treatment and 16% performed dental bleaching. Approximately 45% of children wishedto undergo orthodontics and 54.8% to bleach their teeth. Dissatisfaction with dental appearancewas associated with individuals unsatisfied with dental color (95% IC[1.73;4.32]), those perceivingpoor dental alignment (PR3.16 95% IC[2.11;4.72]) and those wishing orthodontic treatment (PR2.9;95% IC[1.79; 4.70]). Conclusions: The prevalence of dissatisfaction was considerable and wasassociated with aesthetic concerns such as tooth color, dental alignment and with the wish fororthodontics. In this young population, a large part of adolescents had already performed orthodonticand bleaching treatments and wished to perform those treatments again. Satisfaction with dentalappearance could affect the adolescents’ behavior regarding search for dental treatment, thuscausing possible overtreatment.