Evaluation of the relationship between the psychosocial impact of dental appearance and self-perceived esthetic treatment need among dental students

Understanding the relationship between self-perceived need for esthetic dental treatment and the psychosocial effects of dental appearance is essential, particularly for dental students who will become future professionals. This connection may shape how they understand and respond to esthetic concerns in their patients. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the need for esthetic treatment based on self-perception and the psychosocial impact of dental appearance among dental students. A total of 585 dental students completed a three-part questionnaire. The first part included demographic questions. The second part used the Turkish validated version of the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) to assess psychological and social impacts. In the third part, the Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN-AC) was used to evaluate esthetic treatment need based on self-perception. Linear regression analysis was conducted to identify associations between PIDAQ scores, IOTN-AC ratings, and other variables. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was also conducted to assess the construct validity of the PIDAQ in this population. Regarding the IOTN-AC, 74.7% of participants rated themselves as having no or minimal need for orthodontic treatment. The mean total PIDAQ score was 71.95 ± 13.44. Statistically significant differences in PIDAQ scores were observed across age groups, academic years, and IOTN-AC categories (p = 0.002, p = 0.027, and p < 0.001, respectively). Regression analysis revealed that having an IOTN-AC score of 4 or higher had a statistically significant effect on the total PIDAQ score (p < 0.001). The CFA supported the four-factor structure of the Turkish version of the PIDAQ with acceptable model fit indices (RMSEA = 0.07, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.94, CMIN/df = 3.829). The findings highlight the importance of dental appearance in psychological and social well-being and emphasize the need to support dental students in managing esthetic concerns. These findings may inform dental education curricula and improve communication strategies by encouraging greater awareness of esthetic concerns and their psychosocial impacts.