Satisfaction with dental aesthetics among Ghanaians and their desired treatment outcome

Abstract

Introduction: Orofacial aesthetics perception of an individual has a direct effect on his or her psychosocial well being. The color, shape, position, general arrangement of the dentition (especially of the anterior teeth), the smile profile, and the quality of restorations significantly affect an individual's overall dental appearance and aesthetics.
Aim: To assess the dental aesthetic satisfaction among Ghanaians and their desired aesthetic treatments.
Method: This was a descriptive quantitative cross-sectional study, which utilized a closed-ended online questionnaire constructed on Google form. A sample size of 278 was statistically determined. A convenient sampling technique was used.

Result: A response rate of 91.7 % (255 respondents) was achieved. The majority of respondents, 175 (68.8%), were aged between 23 - 30 years. Females were predominant; 132(51.6%). Although 196 (77.0%) did not feel the arrangement and color of their teeth affected their confidence to smile publicly, 59 (23.0%) felt they could not smile confidently in public because of their dental aesthetics.
Conclusion: Respondents in this study expressed satisfaction with their dental aesthetics and appearance. Most of the respondents indicated the desire to have their teeth scaled, polished, and whitened.