Why simple aesthetic dental treatment in general practice does not make all patients happy.

OBJECTIVE

We explored the role of personality and pre-treatment contentment with one's face and body in predicting satisfaction following simple aesthetic dental procedures.

METHODS

In a single-centre repeated measures cohort design we examined the extent to which patient personality and baseline satisfaction with one's face and body predict post-treatment satisfaction. Data were collected from 60 patients attending a UK general practice in 2012. Adults (M age = 60.7 ± 12.6 years) receiving simple, routine aesthetic dental treatment participated. Satisfaction with one's face and body was assessed pre- and post-operatively through validated self-report measures.

RESULTS

Although all participants were more satisfied post-treatment with their body overall (t [59] = 2.78, p <0.004) and with their face in particular (t [59] = 1.83, p <0.035), those scoring highly on neuroticism were generally unhappier both before and after treatment (r range = 0.277-0.360, p <0.05). In multiple regressions, post-operative facial satisfaction (R(2) = 0.475, p <0.001) was predicted by pre-operative facial satisfaction (β = 0.616, t = 5.912, p <0.001) and to a lesser extent by neuroticism (β = -0.241, t = 2.248, p <0.001). Baseline happiness with one's body (β = 0.851, t = 11.996, p <0.001) was the sole predictor of post-treatment body satisfaction (R(2) = 0.744, p <0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological variables may be important predictors of satisfaction with dental treatment and the clinical benefits of assessing them pre-operatively should be explored.