‘Patients rate smiles higher than dentists’
People have a better perception of their smile than dentists do, research has found.
According to a study in the Journal of the American Dental Association, the average person rated their smile at 59.1 out of 100, compared to their dentists who gave an average rating of 40.7 per cent. Independent periodontists gave an even lower average score of 38.6.
The researchers said that the results of the study were "interesting" as patients rated their smiles on memory whereas dentists used photographs.
None of the study’s respondents, who were aged between 22 and 84, were currently seeking cosmetic dental treatments.
"Dentists should be aware that patients who seek aesthetic services may have different perceptions of their smiles than patients who do not express such desires," the researchers commented.
One in ten Brits have an interest in cosmetic dental treatments, research by the British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has shown.
