Perception of patients and undergraduate dental students on facial and dental esthetics

Abstract

This transversal study investigated the perception of patients and undergraduate dental students on facial and dental esthetics. Fifty volunteers (25 patients treated at the Integrated Clinic of the School of Dentistry at State University of Paraiba and 25 undergraduate dental students) were enrolled as participants, characterizing a non-probabilistic sample. Two specific questionnaires were used as research instruments. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive statistics (absolute and percent distributions). The association between the variables was verified by the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests, considering the value of p < 0.05 for rejection of the null hypothesis. Regarding the facial characteristics considered by the participants as the most attractive ones, the shape of the eyes (30%) and the appearance of the teeth (26%) were the most frequently mentioned, with statistically significant difference from the other features (p < 0.01). Regarding the characteristics which most called attention in relation to the smile, the tooth alignment (50%) and mouth shape (44%) were the most commonly cited attributes. Having perfectly aligned and white teeth were referred to as the most important aspects related to the dentition. Most undergraduate dental students (56%) mentioned a desire to have whiter teeth. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the groups regarding tooth arrangement in dental arch. It was concluded that the teeth have an important role in the facial appearance for patients as well as for undergraduate dental students.