Intention to seek esthetic dental treatment and the theory of planned behavior in Saudi dental students and the general population

Influence of Dental Education on Esthetics Self-Perception and Shade Selection

A discrepancy is encountered between the esthetic self-perception and the actual need for treatment. The aim was to determine the influence of dental education on the patients' attitude, esthetic self-perceptions, and shade selection. This cross-sectional study asked participants to select the perceived shade of their incisors using a shade guide, and to complete a self-administered questionnaire assessing their attitude regarding teeth shade. The color coordinates (L*, a*, and b*) of their actual shades were recorded clinically, using a digital spectrophotometer. A Pearson correlation assessed the relation between the perceived and actual color coordinates. A linear regression assessed the association between the attitude towards the esthetic self-perception, background factors, and actual shades. A clinical shade selection was done digitally for 536 participants, comprising 40.1% preclinical dental students, 37.3% clinical dental students, and 22.6% non-dental participants. The perceived and actual a* and b* values were significantly correlated in the preclinical students, and L* and b* were correlated in the clinical students. Those who had not received any dental education showed better attitude scores than the clinical students. The color-matching skills were improved by education; therefore, this emphasizes the importance of teaching color selection in dental schools. Dental esthetic self-perception is also improved by increasing knowledge and skills through exposure to a variety of comprehensive dental cases.

[Modern aspects of determining dental color in aesthetic dentistry]

One of the important factors for creating a beautiful smile is the color of the teeth, which for most people has a more important role than anatomical characteristics. The exact reproduction of the color of the tooth affects the appearance and psycho-emotional state of the patient. The purpose of this work is to review domestic and foreign literature on methods for determining the color of teeth. Methods for determining color are divided into visual, spectrophotometric, colorimetric, digital photo analysis and computer method. The most common in the practice of a dentist is visual, which is based on comparing the examined tooth with color templates. Determination of the color of teeth using scales does not give a reliable result, which is due to the small number of shades in the colors, the phenomenon of metamerism, the impossibility of converting the obtained data into digital values, etc. The hardware method for determining the color of teeth compensates for the disadvantages of the visual and has a high adaptability, which requires many interrelated factors. Due to the complexity and high cost, the devices are used mainly for research purposes. Currently, innovative methods for determining the color of teeth, based on digital and computer analysis, are being actively developed. Thus, hardware methods for determining the color of teeth significantly increase the accuracy of choosing the shade of a future aesthetic restoration or orthopedic construction, excluding subjective factors, however, they require mandatory certification. Correct color assessment and identification helps to reduce costly re-treatments and reduce warranty costs. Despite this, visual methods using scales remain in demand among practicing doctors, due to their low cost and ease of use. The accuracy of determining the color of teeth in this case depends on the professionalism of the dentist, as well as on the correctness of the photo protocol.

Optical properties and masking capacity of flowable giomers

Background and aims

To assess the color, translucency and masking properties of novel flowable giomers.

Methods

Three flowable giomers were used for the fabrication of 1-mm thick samples (n=126) in three different consistencies (Beautifil flow Plus X F00; Beautifil flow F02; Beautifil flow Plus X F03, Shofu Dental Corporation, Japan) and two shades (VITA Classical shade A2 and A3). The relative spectral reflectance was recorded over white, black, C3 (VITA Classical shade C3 simulating a severe tooth discoloration), and a tested-sample colored background. Lightness (L*), and color coordinates a* and b*, Relative Translucency parameter (RTP₀₀) and masking capacity of C3 background were calculated; differences in color and translucency were compared with thresholds for perceptibility and acceptability (PT and AT). Statistical analyses used significance tests for paired samples.

Results

All tested materials displayed increased values of L*: for A2 F00=86.16(±0.86), F02=86.39(±0.63), F03=86.40(±0.63); for A3: F00=84.24(±0.58), F02=83.34(±0.3), F03=84.19(±0.4), as well as of RTP: for A2 F00=30.34(±0.88), F02=31.37(±0.94), F03=31.11(±1.15), for A3 F00=29.64(±1.64), F02=30.79(±1.02), F03=30.1(±1.26). For A2 samples, the masking capacity was significantly different for all materials, whilst for A3 there were differences only between F00-F03 and F02-F03.

Conclusions

The tested flowable giomers proved high values of lightness and translucency. The color differences between the materials with the same designation and different consistencies were below the perceptibility threshold in most cases. In addition, the differences in relative translucency parameter ranged between the perceptibility and acceptability thresholds. However, all tested flowable giomers had an unacceptable masking capacity for a dyschromic background.