Dental Esthetics Awareness among Undergraduate Dental Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Background: Dental esthetics influences perceptions of smile appearance, self-confidence, and attitudes towards cosmetic dental treatment. Dental students are a relevant population because professional education may shape both personal perceptions and awareness of esthetic dentistry. Objective: To evaluate awareness and perceptions of dental esthetics among undergraduate dental students. Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among second-, third-, and fourth-year dental students and interns from dental colleges in India. A total of 338 students participated. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic information and responses concerning physical appearance, dental alignment, perceived functional effects, knowledge of cosmetic dentistry, previous esthetic treatment, and perceived social effects. Results: Overall, 69.5% of participants were satisfied with their smile and 61.5% were satisfied with tooth colour, whereas 22.7% reported hiding their teeth while smiling. Malaligned teeth were reported by 40.2% of participants, and 25.8% agreed or strongly agreed that malalignment caused difficulty with eating or speech. Awareness of cosmetic or esthetic dentistry was reported by 91.7% of respondents. Most participants (79.9%) had not received dental treatment specifically to improve esthetics. In the social domain, 60.7% agreed or strongly agreed that facial appearance affected self-confidence. Conclusion: Undergraduate dental students reported high awareness of cosmetic dentistry, while perceptions of dental appearance, function, treatment uptake, and psychosocial relevance varied. These findings represent self-reported perceptions and should not be interpreted as objective clinical assessments or evidence of causal relationships.