Craniodentofacial characteristics, dental esthetics–related quality of life, and self-esteem

•We explored the relationship between craniodentofacial characteristics and self-esteem.•Self-esteem is mostly influenced by the psychosocial impacts of dental esthetics.•The malocclusion and the craniofacial typology are poor predictors of self-esteem.

IntroductionSelf-esteem is a psychological trait that may develop in interaction with craniodentofacial esthetics. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship among craniodentofacial characteristics, dental esthetics–related quality of life, and self-esteem in adolescents and young adults.MethodsThe study was cross-sectional; the sample included 200 pupils and university students (58% female) aged 13 to 33 years. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire were used. Craniodentofacial features were estimated by the method of Martin and Saller, the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, and the Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need.ResultsWhen malocclusion severity increases, dental esthetics–related quality of life decreases. The multiple linear regression showed that with the control of all other predictors in the model, the social impact of dental esthetics, borderline dental self-confidence, and facial type contribute the most to explain the variability of self-esteem, accounting for 3.2%, 1.3%, and 1.4%, respectively, of the variability values. The whole model accounts for 24.2% of the variability of self-esteem.ConclusionsIn adolescents and young adults, self-esteem appears to be more influenced by the self-perceived psychosocial impacts of dental esthetics than the normative level of malocclusion, craniofacial typology, sex, or age.