RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether malocclusion and past orthodontic treatment are associated with satisfaction with dental appearance among Canadian adults. METHODS: Using data from the 2007-09 Canadian Health Measures Survey, this cross-sectional study analyzed information from 2184 respondents (1005 men and 1179 women) aged 20-59 years. The outcome variable was satisfaction with dental appearance. Ordinal logistic regression was used to investigate the relation between satisfaction with dental appearance and 2 independent variables: malocclusion and past orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Of the participants, 70% were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the appearance of their teeth. The prevalence of malocclusion and past orthodontic treatment was 25% and 20%, respectively. Controlling for the effect of covariates, malocclusion had a significant negative effect on satisfaction with dental appearance (p = 0.02), but past orthodontic treatment did not (p = 0.36). Satisfaction with dental appearance was greater among those in the higher-income group, never smokers, those with better self-rated health, those with no anterior decayed teeth, and those with no anterior filled teeth. CONCLUSION: Past orthodontic treatment was not linked to satisfaction with dental appearance in this sample of Canadian adults. Public health programs and clinicians should focus on addressing esthetic problems by restoring inadequate anterior teeth fillings, restoring anterior tooth decay, and implementing smoking cessation programs before considering orthodontic treatment.