title: Esthetic perception and psychosocial impact of developmental enamel defects among Malaysian adolescents.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and psychosocial impact of enamel defects among 16-year-old school children on the island of Penang. The data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire survey and an oral examination, using the Modified Developmental Defects of Enamel Index (FDI, 1992). In all, 1024 subjects were selected using a multistage random sampling technique. About two-thirds of the sample (67.1%) had at least one tooth affected by enamel defects. Enamel opacities accounted for 85.6% of the total condition. Diffuse-type opacity predominated (63.5%). Among subjects who expressed dissatisfaction, 18.8% reported covering their mouths when smiling, 8.7% avoided going out with friends and 39.1% had consulted their dentists. About 17% of the subjects reported that their parents had complained about the color of their front teeth but only 5.7% had experienced being teased by their friends about the problem. Two-thirds of the subjects were affected by enamel defects involving at least one tooth; however, the esthetic perception and psychosocial impact of those affected were minor.
authors.affiliation: Kuala Lumpur Dental Division, Ministry of Health Malaysia. slsujak@pd.jaring.my
authors.forename: Sharol Lail
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Sujak
authors.forename: Rahimah
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdul Kadir
authors.forename: Tuti Ningseh Mohd
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Dom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001828:Body Image; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003744:Dental Enamel Hypoplasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015995:Prevalence; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires