Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41401746›Full record

ArticleInternational dental journal2026

Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: Mixed‑Methods Study Using Psychosocial Impact of a Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire.

Sonia Nath, Johanna Groundwater, Ria Aiyar, Joanne Hedges, Gina Guzzo, Kostas Kapellas, Alexander Pham, Lisa Jamieson

Erratum issuedAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in International dental journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Sonia NathIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Electronic address: Sonia.nath@adelaide.edu.au.
Johanna GroundwaterIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Ria AiyarIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Joanne HedgesIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Gina GuzzoIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Kostas KapellasIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Alexander PhamIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Lisa JamiesonIndigenous Oral Health Unit, Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, Adelaide Dental School, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDental aesthetics play a vital role in social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). This study examines the impact of dental aesthetics on SEWB among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

methodsParticipants completed a culturally adapted 8‑item Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) comprising four subscales: dental self‑confidence, social impact, psychological impact, and aesthetic concern. Sociodemographic characteristics, dental service use, and self‑rated health data were collected and used as covariates. Mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated for the total PIDAQ and each subscale across covariate groups. Multivariable generalised linear models were fitted to estimate mean ratios (MRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PIDAQ outcomes. Semi-structured interviews (n = 136) explored how participants perceived the effects of dental aesthetics on self-esteem, social confidence, and SEWB, and were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. The study was overseen by an Indigenous Oral Health Reference Group.

resultsAmong 187 participants, the mean total PIDAQ score was 23.93 (SD 7.93), indicating a moderate psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics. Problem‑driven dental attendance was consistently associated with greater burden across outcomes, including total PIDAQ (MR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06-1.34), dental self‑confidence (MR 1.20, 1.04-1.40), social impact (MR 1.21, 1.05-1.40), and aesthetic concern (MR 1.21, 1.08-1.33). Poor self-rated general health was linked to higher total scores (MR 1.12, 1.02-1.24) and greater aesthetic concern (MR 1.12, 1.00-1.28). Additionally, a last dental visit more than a year ago was also associated with higher aesthetic concern (MR 1.11, 1.00-1.23). Qualitative analyses showed how dental appearance influences confidence, social participation, intersects with racism/discrimination, and how aesthetic dental treatment can enhance SEWB.

conclusionDental aesthetics can significantly influence SEWB among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Culturally safe, affordable dental care addressing clinical and psychosocial needs is essential.

Indexed as

Esthetics, DentalAdolescentAdultAustraliaFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOral HealthSelf ConceptSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultAboriginal and Torres strait islander peoplesAgingDental aestheticsIndigenous AustraliansOral healthPublic health dentistry

Identifiers

PMID41401746
PMCPMC12767711

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.