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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0PLOS One

Dental aesthetic self-perception, smile satisfaction and associated factors among adults: A cross-sectional study

  • Javaria Baig1
  • Muhammad Osama Afzal2
  • Ramish Mehmood Shaikh1
  • Abdullah Khalid Sagga3
  • Manal Abdulaziz Murad4
  • Fizzah Baig5
  • Layan Khalid Sagga6
  • Mukhtiar Baig7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Liaquat College of Medicine & Dentistry, Karachi, Pakistan
  2. 2Tooth Club Dental Practice, Chelmsford, Essex, England
  3. 3Fifth-year student, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye
  4. 4General Dentist, Jeddah Specialty Dental Center, Ministry of Health, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  5. 5Family and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
  6. 6Ziauddin Medical College, Ziauddin University, Karachi, Pakistan
  7. 7Faculty of Medicine, Medical student, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

Introduction: Dental aesthetics self-perception can influence self-confidence and psychosocial well-being, but evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study examined dental aesthetic self-perception, smile satisfaction, and associated factors among adults in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD) in Karachi from November 2, 2022, to March 21, 2023. Adults residing in Karachi were recruited through an online convenience sample, with the questionnaire link distributed by email and social media platforms. Results: Eight hundred fifty-four individuals participated in the study, comprising 276 males (32.3%) and 578 females (67.7%). Overall, 62.8% of participants were satisfied with their smile, whereas 318 (37.2%) expressed dissatisfaction. A total of 595 (69.7%) agreed that a smile can affect mental, emotional, and social well-being, and 665 (77.9%) believed that smiling alleviates stress. Most respondents (542, 63.4%) agreed that tooth color influences the attractiveness of a smile. Additionally, 335 (39.2%) reported always or sometimes avoiding smiling in photographs. Reported reasons included irregular tooth size or shape (25.4%), yellow or stained teeth (22.7%), misaligned teeth (16.1%), gaps between teeth (8.3%), and other reasons (20%). Gender analysis indicated that more females believed a smile influences their cognitive, emotional, and social well-being (p = 0.032) and the influence of tooth color on attractiveness of a smile (p = 0.034). Binary logistic regression found no significant associations between sociodemographic variables and smile satisfaction. Conclusion: Overall, 62.8% of participants were satisfied with their smiles, and the measured sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with smile satisfaction. Most participants believed that smiling reduces stress, enhances personality, and reflects confidence. Further studies using probability-based sampling and formally validated instruments are needed to identify clinical, psychological, and contextual factors associated with smile satisfaction.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{baig2026dental,
  title = {{Dental aesthetic self-perception, smile satisfaction and associated factors among adults: A cross-sectional study}},
  author = {Javaria Baig and Muhammad Osama Afzal and Ramish Mehmood Shaikh and Abdullah Khalid Sagga and Manal Abdulaziz Murad and Fizzah Baig and Layan Khalid Sagga and Mukhtiar Baig},
  journal = {PLOS One},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0357126},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357126},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dental aesthetic self-perception, smile satisfaction and associated factors among adults: A cross-sectional study
AU  - Javaria Baig
AU  - Muhammad Osama Afzal
AU  - Ramish Mehmood Shaikh
AU  - Abdullah Khalid Sagga
AU  - Manal Abdulaziz Murad
AU  - Fizzah Baig
AU  - Layan Khalid Sagga
AU  - Mukhtiar Baig
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/15
JO  - PLOS One
DO  - 10.1371/journal.pone.0357126
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0357126
AB  - Introduction: Dental aesthetics self-perception can influence self-confidence and psychosocial well-being, but evidence from Pakistan remains limited. This study examined dental aesthetic self-perception, smile satisfaction, and associated factors among adults in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Liaquat College of Medicine and Dentistry (LCMD) in Karachi from November 2, 2022, to March 21, 2023. Adults residing in Karachi were recruited through an online convenience sample, with the questionnaire link distributed by email and social media platforms. Results: Eight hundred fifty-four individuals participated in the study, comprising 276 males (32.3%) and 578 females (67.7%). Overall, 62.8% of participants were satisfied with their smile, whereas 318 (37.2%) expressed dissatisfaction. A total of 595 (69.7%) agreed that a smile can affect mental, emotional, and social well-being, and 665 (77.9%) believed that smiling alleviates stress. Most respondents (542, 63.4%) agreed that tooth color influences the attractiveness of a smile. Additionally, 335 (39.2%) reported always or sometimes avoiding smiling in photographs. Reported reasons included irregular tooth size or shape (25.4%), yellow or stained teeth (22.7%), misaligned teeth (16.1%), gaps between teeth (8.3%), and other reasons (20%). Gender analysis indicated that more females believed a smile influences their cognitive, emotional, and social well-being (p = 0.032) and the influence of tooth color on attractiveness of a smile (p = 0.034). Binary logistic regression found no significant associations between sociodemographic variables and smile satisfaction. Conclusion: Overall, 62.8% of participants were satisfied with their smiles, and the measured sociodemographic variables were not significantly associated with smile satisfaction. Most participants believed that smiling reduces stress, enhances personality, and reflects confidence. Further studies using probability-based sampling and formally validated instruments are needed to identify clinical, psychological, and contextual factors associated with smile satisfaction.
SN  - 1932-6203
ER  -