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Updated: Feb 17, 2026
Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Dynamics of satisfaction with dental appearance among dentate adults: 24-month incidence
Xiaoxian Meng1, Gregg H Gilbert, Mark S Litaker
1Department of Preventive and Restorative Sciences, Robert Schattner Center, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 240 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6030, USA. xmeng@dental.upenn.edu
Introduction:
Dental appearance comprises an important aspect of oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). However, no study has investigated the dynamics of satisfaction with dental appearance and other aspects of oral health using a longitudinal study design. The current study aimed to: (i) quantify longitudinal patterns of change in satisfaction with dental appearance, and (ii) identify the dynamic relationships between the changes in satisfaction with dental appearance and other dimensions of oral health (oral disease/tissue damage and oral disadvantage), taking sociodemographic factors into account.
Methods:
Data were taken from the Florida Dental Care Study (FDCS), a population-based longitudinal cohort study of oral health and OHRQoL. The sample included at baseline 873 subjects. Patterns of change in satisfaction with dental appearance during 24 months of follow-up were quantified. The dynamic relationships between the changes in satisfaction with dental appearance and other dimensions of oral health were evaluated.
Results:
During follow-up, 19-22% of the subjects were dissatisfied with dental appearance, depending on the time point of the interview. Onset of a certain oral health problem/condition or constantly having the problem/condition was associated with a lower likelihood of satisfaction improvement and a higher likelihood of deterioration. In comparison, recovery from a certain oral health problem/condition or not having the problem/condition was associated with a higher likelihood of improvement and a lower likelihood of deterioration.
Conclusion:
Change in satisfaction with dental appearance was substantially influenced by the dynamic changes in other aspects of oral health.
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