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. 2018 Nov-Dec;11(6):479-482.
doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1561.

Visible Enamel Defects in Adolescents: How Do their Peers View Them?

Ullal A Nayak  1 , Apurva Pawar  2 , Damodhar Kappadi  2 , Deepesh Prajapati  2 , Kangkan J Roy  2 , Saakshe Wadhwa  2
Affiliations

Visible Enamel Defects in Adolescents: How Do their Peers View Them?

Ullal A Nayak et al. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent. 2018 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Aim: The present study was aimed to determine whether adolescents make social judgments about other children who have noticeable enamel imperfections.

Materials and methods: Two schools with very different socio-economic profiles were selected using a stratified random sampling method. Children aged 13-14 years (school class 9) and 15-16 (school class 11) were randomly selected from these schools totaling to a sample size of 200. Half the participants rated full-face photographs of a boy and girl without an enamel defect, and the other half-rated the same two photographs with the digitally modified incisors. The photographic subjects were rated on a four-point Likert's scale consisting of six positive and five negative descriptors.

Results: Based on the gender of the photographic subject, the mean total attribute score was almost identical. However, it was lower for photographic subjects showing enamel defects as compared to those without.

Conclusion: The dental appearance can influence value judgments in children.

Clinical significance: It is important to treat the enamel lesions and various developmental defects of the enamel as it may lead to a negative social judgment by peers.

How to cite this article: Nayak UA, Pawar A, Kappadi D, Prajapati D, Roy KJ, Wadhwa S. Visible Enamel Defects in Adolescents: How Do their Peers View Them?. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2018;11(6):479-482.

Keywords: Dental appearance; Enamel defects; Judgements.

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Conflict of interest statement

Source of support: Nil Conflict of interest: None

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Photographs of 15-year-old boy and girl without enamel defects on anterior teeth
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Photographs of 15-year-old boy and girl with digitally superimposed enamel defects on anterior teeth
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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