2725 Personality Traits and Satisfaction with the Dentition in Tooth Wear Patients
M.K. AL-OMIRI, P.-J. LAMEY, C. COOPER, and T. CLIFFORD, Queen`s University Belfast, United Kingdom

Introduction: Personality traits and psychology have well defined impacts on patient satisfaction with their dentition. Neuroticism {N} and Extraversion {E} has been proved to affect patients' satisfaction with their aesthetics. Some tooth wear patients were found to be satisfied with their dentition despite severe wear effects on dentition and vise versa.

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the personality traits that could affect the satisfaction with the dentition in tooth wear patients.

Materials and Methods: 111 tooth wear patients and 111 control subjects that matched the patients' group by age, sex, and education were recruited into this study. Dental impact on Daily Living {DIDL} questionnaire was used to assess patients' satisfaction with their dentition. The NEO PI-R personality questionnaire was used to assess patients' personality traits.

Results: Total satisfaction scores as well as appearance, comfort, general performance, and eating satisfaction scores showed significant differences between groups with p=0.000. N showed significant negative correlations with total satisfaction with teeth {p=0.002}, and with satisfaction with appearance {p=0.019}. E showed significant positive correlations with total satisfaction {p=0.048}, and with satisfaction with appearance {p=0.006}. Conscientiousness {C} showed a significant negative correlation with satisfaction with eating capacities {p=0.016}. The control group showed no such correlations except for a significant correlation between N and total satisfaction score {p=0.001}.

Conclusion: In tooth wear patients; low E scores and high N scores are associated with decreased levels of satisfaction with dentition and dento-facial aesthetics. High C scores are associated with lower levels of satisfaction with eating. Regardless the presence of tooth wear decreased total satisfaction scores are associated with lower N scores. This highlights the strong impact of the psychological traits on the satisfaction with dentition. It is very helpful to identify the abnormal psychological traits before starting expensive and possibly prolonged restorative treatments.

Seq #275 - Oral Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
11:00 AM-12:15 PM, Saturday, 28 June 2003 Svenska Massan Exhibition Hall B

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