SELF-PERCEPTION OF ANTERIOR DENTAL ASPECT AND AESTHETICS AMONG SOUTH-EAST IRANIAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction.The aspect of teeth is one of the important factors determining the attractiveness of a face, playing a major role in human social interactions. Color, shape and location of teeth, quality of restorations, regularity of teeth, especially of the anterior ones, are factors that affect their general appearance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the level of satisfaction with dental aesthetics in high school students in Kerman in 2019. Materials and methods. This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on 400 high school students. The data collection tool included a questionnaire (demographic information, 5 questions about satisfaction with teeth, willingness to perform aesthetics treatments) and dental examination (in terms of shape, size, color, presence of fracture) and measurement of the dental plaque index. Data was introduced in the computer and analyzed with a SPSS 21 software using t-test, linear regression and ANOVA, at a significance level of 0.05.Results and discussion. For having a satisfactory aspect of their teeth, 41.1-54.3% of the females and 41% of males were willing to have aesthetics treatments. The mean score of satisfaction with dental aesthetics in this study was 5.90 +/- 2.97 out of 15. There was no significant relationship between gender, parents' education level and satisfaction for the appearance of teeth. Students with better economic status and willing to perform aesthetics treatment had a significantly higher level of satisfaction.Conclusions. The results of the present study revealed that females were significantly less satisfied with the color and placement or arrangement of teeth and shape and form of gums, compared to males. Students with better economic status and unwillingness to perform aesthetics treatment were significantly more satisfied.