Evaluating the role of dental education in shaping aesthetic preferences and clinical choices in Cambodia

Aim The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the factors influencing perceived dental appearance among dental and non-dental university students. Methods A questionnaire was provided to all the consenting participants in the study. The survey was validated with a pilot study and the results of the pilot study were not included in the final results. A total of 420 participants were recruited for the study, of which 210 were dental students and 210 were non-dental students. The recruited participants answered questions regarding smile and esthetics perceptions using a validated questionnaire. Results Significant differences were observed between groups in perceptions of facial and dental aesthetics, with non-dental students placing more importance on features like nose shape ( P = 0.038) and white or specific tooth shapes ( P < 0.05). Dental students showed greater awareness of dental alignment but reported lower overall satisfaction. Non-dental students had higher aesthetic treatment experience and intentions ( P < 0.05), brushed more frequently, but flossed and visited the dentist less often. Overall, non-dental students had significantly higher satisfaction scores than dental students ( P < 0.001). Conclusion It was observed that both dental and non-dental students had a good awareness on esthetics; however, dental students showed greater sensitivity towards aesthetics due to their deeper knowledge and educational background. On the other hand, non-dental students due to their superficial knowledge regarding dentistry had higher expectations from dental treatment and expressed unrealistic esthetic demands.