Preoccupation with one's appearance: a motivating factor for cosmetic dental treatment?
BACKGROUND
It has been estimated that among patients presenting for cosmetic treatments up to 15% suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD), a psychiatric condition characterised by a preoccupation with an imagined defect in appearance.


OBJECTIVE
The main purpose of the current study was to establish the relationship between presence of BDD characteristics and interest in aesthetically motivated dental treatments.


METHODS
Data were obtained by means of a survey within a sample of 879 Dutch citizens of 16 years and older. Characteristics of BDD were assessed based on DSM-IV criteria.


RESULTS
Only one of the BDD features (ie a preoccupation with a defect of appearance) emerged as a significant predictor of undergoing cosmetic dental treatments. Patients with such preoccupation were nine times more likely to consider tooth whitening, and six times more likely to consider orthodontic treatment. They were also five times more likely to be dissatisfied about their most recent treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that preoccupation with one's physical appearance is a motivating factor for undergoing certain types of cosmetic dental procedures.
De Jongh
A
A
Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands. a.de.jongh@acta.nl
Oosterink
F M D
FM
van Rood
Y R
YR
Aartman
I H A
IH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D003357:Cosmetic Techniques / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data