Impact of Dental Aesthetics on Dental Students’ Academic and Social Performance: A PIDAQ‐Based Study

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of self-reported perception of facial and dental aesthetics on academic and social performance among dental students in Jordan. Methods: Online and paper-based cross-sectional surveys were collected from 371 dental students distributed between the two dental schools in Jordan. The survey contained the five sections of the Psychological Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), then asked participants about the presence or absence of factors that compromise dental aesthetics, and information about academic scores and academic satisfaction. Results: Results showed that facial and dental aesthetics had an impact on the social and academic performance of dental students in Jordan. Students who stated perceived factors compromising their dental aesthetics reported low levels of confidence when speaking and communicating with other people, lower grades, and low levels of satisfaction with overall academic performance. Conclusions: Social and academic performance of dental students in Jordan were found to be significantly influenced by the aesthetic qualities of the self-reported facial and dental features. These findings highlight potential psychosocial impacts of perceived dental aesthetics, while acknowledging that other unmeasured factors may also contribute.