Professional paper

Factors related to patients’ satisfaction with appearance of maxillary anterior teeth

Vlatka Lajnert ; Department of stomatological prosthetics, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Renata Gržić ; Department of stomatological prosthetics, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Daniela Kovačević Pavičić ; Department of stomatological prosthetics, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Zoran Kovač ; Department of stomatological prosthetics, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Davor Kuiš ; Department of oral medicine and parodontology, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Snježana Glavičić ; Department of endodoncy and restaurative medicine, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia
Đana Pahor ; Nastavni Zavod za javno zdravstvo PGŽ
Danko Bakarčić ; Department of children's stomatology and ortodoncy, Faculty of medicine, University of Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

Aim: Until recently, restorative dentistry considered mostly functional demands.
Today, with the decrease in caries prevalence, the focus has shifted toward dental esthetics.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors influencing patient’s satisfaction with dental
appearance of maxillary anterior teeth. Methods: The study population consisted of 75
adults (28 men and 46 women; mean age 25 ± 3.5 years). They completed a questionnaire
regarding satisfaction with current dental esthetics issues, such as satisfaction with tooth
appearance, color, shape and alignment of maxillary anterior teeth. The answers were compared
with the current status (type of the restorative or prosthetic appliance), color, size
and the shape of the maxillary anterior teeth. Results: Of the 75 subjects, 40 (53 %) were
dissatisfied with their dental appearance. Teeth color was the primary reason for dissatisfaction
(31 of 40 subjects; 77.5 %), followed by teeth shape (26 of 40 subjects; 65 %) and poor
teeth alignment (25 of 40 subjects; 62.5 %). Eighty percent (32 subjects) of the subjects who
were dissatisfied reported the desire for improvement in teeth appearance in general. A significant
positive correlation was obtained between the patient’s satisfaction with teeth appearance
and color, width/length ratio and current status of the maxillary anterior teeth
(p<0.001). Conclusion: Patient’s satisfaction with appearance of maxillary anterior teeth was
low (more than 50 %). Esthetic aspect should therefore receive special attention in dental
treatment and the color of the teeth should be regarded as of special importance.

Keywords

esthetics; satisfaction; tooth

Hrčak ID:

66097

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/66097

Publication date:

7.3.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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