Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between dental aesthetic index (DAI) and self - satisfaction with dental appearance, smile and desire for orthodontic care.
Methods: A survey of 103 school children, 51 boys and 52 girls was carried out in Annamalai Nagar, Chidambaram. The subjects were interviewed using a questionnaire consisting of questions concerning smile, dental appearance and desire for orthodontic treatment. They were also assessed using the dental aesthetic index.
Results: Statistically significant correlations were between subjective assessments of dental appearance and DAI (P = 0.042) and need for orthodontic treatment and DAI (P = 0.045). The strongest correlations were found between DAI and comparative evaluations of dental appearance (P < 0.005).
Conclusion: This study has shown significant correlations between DAI and subjective perceptions of dental appearance.
Keywords: Dental aesthetic index; dental appearance; desire for orthodontic correction..