Cosmetic Dentistry Argument Analysis

America has developed a preoccupation with self-image. The rapid growth of cosmetic dentistry, 200% from 2015 to 2016 according to a recent survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (1), has garnered a rise of controversial topics surrounding the practice of cosmetic dentistry. One of the spotlighted topics is whether or not American society is perpetuating an idealistic physical appearance and if this is a legitimate issue that needs to be addressed. Our society has built importance around physical appearance, whether in the workforce or everyday social life. Now that serious health issues have been regulated with the scientific discovery of the connection between diet and dental health, the dental field is mostly based on aesthetics.
The classism promoted by a person’s dental appearance has been rooted in history since the very first records of dental practice. In Angus Trumble’s A Brief History of the Smile, Trumble connects the rampant classism of the 18th century to the “cultural association of crooked teeth and moral turpitude” (2). That connection has transcended to modern times where crooked teeth are still equated with poor social standing and monetary value.
A major argument from the opposing side is that there is dissonance in the handling of cosmetic dentistry socially and professionally. Practicing cosmetic dentistry should require a separate certification in every US dental school. Dentists should be required to go through a specified curriculum to add cosmetic procedures to their repertoire. This specialization would also ensure proper education on the difference of consultations between doctors in general medicine as opposed to doctors in cosmetic fields. Undereducated professionals are prominent in the cosmetic dentistry
Research groups use three main tests to measure the physical and mental aspects of this argument: The Psychological Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), and the Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSE). The PIDAQ can be utilized as an indicator for orthodontic treatment need and to make sure there have not been changes in a person’s oral health due to orthodontic treatment. (7) The DAI varies from study to study. It usually consists of 10 specific “occlusal traits related to dental anomalies according to the three dentition components, i.e., spacing, crowding, and occlusion.” (4) (7) Rosenberg’s Self-esteem scale is a ’10-item Likert scale with items answered on a four-point scale”.