Relationship between dental impacts on daily living, satisfaction with the dentition and personality profiles among a Palestinian population.

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental impacts on patients' daily living, satisfaction with the dentition and personality profiles.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-two patients (22 males and 30 females; mean age 22.7 +/- 5.5 years) were recruited for this study. A "dental impact on daily living" (DIDL) questionnaire was used to assess patients' satisfaction with their dentition and impacts on daily living. The NEO five factor inventory (NEO-FFI) was used to assess personality profiles.

RESULTS

The dentition had measurable impacts on daily living as well as satisfaction with appearance, pain levels, oral comfort, general performance, and eating capability (p < 0.001). Older patients were more totally satisfied (p = 0.014), more satisfied with appearance (p = 0.034), and less satisfied with general performance (p = 0.024). Older patients had higher Conscientiousness scores (p = 0.001) and lower Openness scores (0.018). Females were more satisfied with eating (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were established between neuroticism and total DIDL scores (p = 0.006). Extraversion had significant correlations with total satisfaction (p < 0.001) as well as satisfaction with appearance (p = 0.047) and oral comfort (p = 0.008). Significant correlations were also established between openness and satisfaction with general performance (p < 0.001), between Agreeableness and satisfaction with eating (p = 0.001), and between Conscientiousness and total satisfaction (p = 0.001), satisfaction with pain (p = 0.004), and satisfaction with oral comfort (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

The status of the oral cavity might impact on patients' daily living and satisfaction with the dentition. Patients' satisfaction with their dentition has definitive impacts on daily living and dental perceptions. Personality profiles (neuroticism; extraversion; openness; agreeableness and conscientiousness) may influence dental perceptions; play a significant role in shaping satisfaction with dentition, and help with prediction of dental impacts on daily living. Patient satisfaction and psychological profiles should be considered when formulating a treatment plan in order to achieve patient acceptance of the offered treatment.