What impact do personality traits have on self-perception of dental aesthetics?

BACKGROUND: Malocclusion has significant social, psychological and physical impacts on the quality of life. This study aimed to study psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics among students, and how it was modified by personality traits. METHODS: Chinese version of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Short Scale of (EPQ-RSC) and Chinese version of Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) were used to investigate 555 undergraduate students, aged 18 to 24 years. The participants and investigators self-rated their own dental aesthetics using the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). The malocclusion was assessed by two independent investigators using the Dental Health Component (DHC) of IOTN. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found for gender (p = 0.829) nor for majors (p = 0.598) in the psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics. Total and subscale PIDAQ scores differed significantly among the 3 IOTN grades. PIDAQ scores strongly correlated with Eysenck personality. The dimensions of extraversion and neuroticism, and dental health component grades had significant impact on participants' psychosocial well-being of dental aesthetics. CONCLUSIONS: Neurotic people with high self-concerns perceived greater psychosocial impact. Outgoing people appear to be less affected psychosocially by dental aesthetics.