[The impact of dental appearance on perceptions of personal characteristics among Chinese people in the United Kingdom].

OBJECTIVE

Ascertain whether dental appearance affects perceptions personality characteristics among Chinese people living in the UK.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study compared participants' perceptions of the personality traits with the dento-facial condition of the subjects of color photographs. Quota sample of 165 Chinese adults living in the UK attended the study. Each participant was asked to make judgments about the personality of the subject of a single color photograph. Fifteen photographs were used of five different men each with three degrees of dental disease. The judgments of the adjustment and social and intellectual competence of the subjects of the photographs were made as main outcomes.

RESULTS

Participants judged subjects with fewer dental diseases to be bettered adjusted and more intellectually competent.

CONCLUSION

Dental appearance affected the judgments about some personality characteristics made by these Chinese people. Dental appearance may influence social interactions and contribute to social selection and the associations between health and socio-economic status.