Aesthetic perceptions of dental fluorosis among young university students

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia

Wambier, Denise Stadler¹  Lopes, Célia Maria Da Lozzo¹  Strosky, Maryana Luzia¹  Araújo, Paula Fabiane Fonseca¹  Baldani, Márcia Helena¹ 

[1] Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa

关键词: Dental aesthetic;    Dental fluorosis;    Perception;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1415-790X2008000400008

学科分类：过敏症与临床免疫学

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

OBJECTIVE:To identify the levels of approval of dental fluorosis among lay adults anddentists, comparing the standards of acceptance of the appearance of affectedteeth among groups of university students attending the area of Exact Sciences,representing the lay population, and senior Dentistry students, representingdentists.
METHODS: 180 students participated by answering questions concerningdental arch photographs, with Dean's very mild, mild and moderate fluorosisindex, and moderate fluorosis after the application of the microabrasion enameltechnique. The questionnaire comprised questions about the general appearanceof the mouth; coloration, form and position of teeth; aspect of the gums andthe possibility of smiling without embarrassment. Data was analyzed using theChi-square test and reliable logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals.
RESULTS: There were higher approval ratios, related to the appearanceof the mouth and coloration of teeth, for the cases of very mild fluorosis.For all cases, Exact Sciences students were more demanding than Dentistry students.There was a significant association between perceived appearance of the mouthand discoloration of the teeth. The multivariate analysis revealed that, inthe case of very mild fluorosis, the discoloration of teeth was included inthe explanatory model of the perception of the appearance of the mouth onlyfor the group of senior Dentistry students.
CONCLUSIONS: All levels of fluorosis were perceived by the groups studied;however the cases of very mild fluorosis do not seem to compromise the positiveperception of the appearance of the mouth, for the groups that represent layindividuals.

【 授权许可】

CC BY