title: Perception and significance of dental appearance: the case of missing teeth.
abstract: The perception and significance of dental appearance was investigated in three groups of patients. One group had a missing front tooth replaced by partial dentures, which were taken out during the tests. A second group had some missing (pre-)molars. A third group had a complete natural dentition and they acted as control group. Color photographs of the teeth were made and a clinical examination was carried out. The psychological impact of dental appearance was measured by way of a scale of words with affective connotations. Social impact was assessed by way of changes in daily activities. Dentists and lay-persons were asked to give an opinion of the dental appearance on the basis of the pictures. It was found that a missing front tooth resulted in less positive feelings and more negative feelings and also that this condition affected daily life activities strongly. Missing (pre-)molars caused less of an aesthetic problem. Dentists and lay-persons were quite alike in their appreciation of dental appearance, whereas the respondents themselves had different opinions. An explanation for these differences and their implications for dentists are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Sciences in Dentistry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Oosterhaven
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Westert
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Schaub
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001290:Attitude; D001641:Bicuspid; D004245:DMF Index; D003832:Denture, Partial, Removable; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007576:Jaw, Edentulous, Partially / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010512:Periodontal Index; D012649:Self Concept