Influence of Dental Education on Esthetics Self-Perception and Shade Selection

Abstract

A discrepancy is encountered between the esthetic self-perception and the actual need for treatment. The aim was to determine the influence of dental education on the patients’ attitude, esthetic self-perceptions, and shade selection. This cross-sectional study asked participants to select the perceived shade of their incisors using a shade guide, and to complete a self-administered questionnaire assessing their attitude regarding teeth shade. The color coordinates (L*, a*, and b*) of their actual shades were recorded clinically, using a digital spectrophotometer. A Pearson correlation assessed the relation between the perceived and actual color coordinates. A linear regression assessed the association between the attitude towards the esthetic self-perception, background factors, and actual shades. A clinical shade selection was done digitally for 536 participants, comprising 40.1% preclinical dental students, 37.3% clinical dental students, and 22.6% non-dental participants. The perceived and actual a* and b* values were significantly correlated in the preclinical students, and L* and b* were correlated in the clinical students. Those who had not received any dental education showed better attitude scores than the clinical students. The color-matching skills were improved by education; therefore, this emphasizes the importance of teaching color selection in dental schools. Dental esthetic self-perception is also improved by increasing knowledge and skills through exposure to a variety of comprehensive dental cases.

Implant-supported crowns on maxillary laterals and canines—a long-term follow-up of aesthetics and function

“…Even though no significant difference in the aesthetics of the ISC was noticed between the groups, the patients in each group were more dissatisfied with the aesthetics at T1 than at T0. Patients’ perception of aesthetics may have changed over the years: what seemed to be aesthetically satisfactory eleven years ago may not be considered as good today, which might explain the decreased satisfaction observed at T1 [ 20 – 22 ]. Another explanation could be that the patients had waited a long time to get an ISC, as implants are installed when the growth of the maxilla has stopped, and were longing for a permanent solution [ 8 , 13 ].…”

Sociodemographic factors associated with knowledge and attitudes of Peruvian dental interns about dental shade selection

“…Nowadays, dentistry is faced with patients' demands to meet high esthetic standards [ 21 , 22 ]. This makes dental shade selection a fundamental step in achieving optimal results.…”

“…This makes dental shade selection a fundamental step in achieving optimal results. According to Ellakany et al [ 21 ], theoretical teaching given to students is not sufficient to achieve better perception in tooth shade selection. Therefore, it is necessary for students to improve their knowledge and skills with a variety of clinical cases during their professional training, especially during the hospital internship, given that the dental intern is a student in the final year of their professional career, who carries out pre-professional healthcare practices with the aim of integrating and reinforcing the competencies previously acquired throughout their training.…”

“…In that sense, considering that one of the characteristics that influence the development of attitudes is the cognitive aspect on a given subject [ 36 , 37 ], probably insufficient knowledge could have influenced the unfavorable attitude found. Oremosu et al [ 15 ], Saqib et al [ 13 ] and Rozar et al [ 3 ] reported that knowledge, depending on the level, can positively or negatively influence students' skills and attitudes in dental shade selection [ 13 , 15 , 21 ]. In addition, most of the students were in favour of always using natural light for tooth shade selection and that the dental office should have soft color shades.…”

Influence of education level and gender of dental students on perception of dental aesthetics

“…While many studies prove that the perception of aesthetic modification is different between general dentists, dentists with different specializations and layperson, there is not enough data about dental students’ progress in perception of aesthetic modification [ 16 – 21 ]. The purpose of this research was to determine whether there is a difference in the perception of modifications in tooth shade, dimensions, and tooth rotations of the maxillary front teeth among the dental students, regarding gender, degree of education, previous experience in dentistry through assisting in dental practice, and the presence of a dentist in the immediate family.…”