Relative esthetic importance of orthodontic and color abnormalities.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relative importance of an orthodontic esthetic index, dental fluorosis and nonfluoride opacities, with respect to parents' satisfaction with their children's dental esthetics.


METHODS
Dental examinations of Iowa Fluoride Study participants assessed fluorosis and nonfluoride opacities in the mixed dentition. Dental casts of 200 randomly selected subjects were scored using the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) criteria. Parent satisfaction was assessed via multiple items on a questionnaire. Associations were evaluated using logistic regression.


RESULTS
Nineteen percent of parents were somewhat or very dissatisfied with their children's dental esthetics. Overall DAI score was positively associated with dissatisfaction (P < .001), as was fluorosis (P = .003).


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to changes related to DAI scores, parent esthetic satisfaction decreased with the presence of fluorosis. Dental professionals should address both the issues of tooth positioning and color aberration with respect to dental esthetics.
Lawson
Jessica
J
College of Dentistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Warren
John J
JJ
Levy
Steven M
SM
Broffitt
Barbara
B
Bishara
Samir E
SE
D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003116:Color; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003818:Dentition, Mixed; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000473:pathology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology