ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The interest in the research of both Oral Health Related Quality Of Life and dental aesthetics has increased in the recent years. The aim of the current study consists in the evaluation of the perception of oral-health, dental aesthetics and self-esteem in a general population. METHODS: A group of students of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Cluj-Napoca, were trained in the field of questionnaire interviewing. The students were asked to apply the following questionnaires to a number of maximum five close persons: the OHIP-14Aesthetic questionnaire, the Rosenberg self-esteem scale and a questionnaire evaluating demographic data. Each interviewed subject provided informed consent. The sample included 97 subjects with an age range of 18-75 years. For each of the three applied questionnaires overall scores were computed and used for the calculation of Pearson correlations and inferential statistical procedures: the t-test. RESULTS: Related to the complete sample (N=97), the highest OHIP-14Aesthetic scores were obtained for the functional limitation (mean score of 2.22), physical pain (mean score of 2.72) and psychological discomfort (mean score of 1.37) subscales. The highest Rosenberg self-esteem scale scores were obtained for the following questions: "I think I am no good at all" (mean score of 3.50), "feel useless at times" (mean score of 3.53), "inclined to feel that I am a failure" (mean score 3.77), "positive attitude toward myself" (mean score of 3.50). Statistically significant correlations were registered between the overall Rosenberg self-esteem scale score and the scores of the following OHIP-14Aesthetic subscales: psychological discomfort (r = -0.201, p = 0.49), physical disability (r = -0.219, p = 0.031), psychological disability (r = -0.218, p = 0.032), social disability (r = -0.203, p = 0.046). The t-test revealed statistically significant gender differences, in regard to the OHIP-14Aesthetic overall score t(95) = -2.820, p = 0.006. CONCLUSIONS: The current study indicates the existence of statistically significant gender differences in the perception of oral health and a series of dental aesthetics elements in a general population. Moreover, statistically significant correlations were obtained between the perception of oral health and the perception of self-esteem.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To assess the translucency of two pressable ceramics and to analyze their masking property when placed on different tooth-shaded backgrounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty discs (1-mm thickness) were fabricated using two pressable ceramics (shade/translucency): 1M1T/HT, 1M2T/HT, 2M2T (VITA PM9), and A1LT/HT, B1LT/HT, A2LT (e.max Press). Color measurements of discs were performed with a dental spectrophotometer on tooth-colored backgrounds (A1/A2/A3/A3.5/A4), and black and white backings. The masking property was calculated as the color difference (CIEDE2000) between parameters of discs on control (A1, A2) and test backgrounds (A3, A3.5, A4). One-way ANOVA was used for assessing differences in translucency parameter (TP) between ceramics. Two-way ANOVA was used for detecting differences among groups when measured over tooth-shaded backgrounds (α = 0.05, Bonferroni correction). RESULTS: TP ranged between 14.96 (B1LT) and 25.18 (1M1HT). A significant difference in TP was found between tested ceramics (F = 949.949, P < .001). However, TP did not vary significantly between 1M1HT and 1M2HT (P > .05), 1M1T, A1HT and B1HT (P > .05), 1M2T, 2M2T, and A2HT (P > .05). A significant interaction effect of underlying background on color of ceramic discs was found (F = 107.994, P < .001). CONCLUSION: VITA PM9 demonstrated higher translucency than e.max Press ceramics. Except A1LT, all ceramic materials evaluated showed poor masking properties on A4 background. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Highly translucent ceramics should be wisely used for restoring the appearance of dental structures since background color has a large effect upon these materials. The more recently introduced pressable ceramics showed high levels of translucency.
