Distribution of Cosmetic Dental Procedures among University Students: Observational Cross Sectional Study in Gaza Strip

Abstract

Cosmetic dentistry is a branch of dentistry that deals with any dental work that improves the appearance -not necessarily the function- of a person’s teeth, gums and/or bite. There are many techniques and methods used to treat teeth that are discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing. Common procedures include bleaching, bonding, crowns, veneers, reshaping, and contouring. These improvements are not always just cosmetic. Many of these treatments can improve oral problems, such as overbites and underbites. Due to a heightened awareness of cosmetic dentistry in the society and the rapidly increasing numbers of dentistry graduates, it is important to find the best possible way to satisfy society's demands and fairly distribute dental clinics. The aim of this study is to identify the prevalence of cosmetic dental procedures among university students and their satisfaction with the cosmetic result in Gaza. The study will be carried among adult students aged from 18 to 25years old in Gazan universities (Al-Azhar University, Islamic University, Al-Aqsa University and University of Palestine). Three hundred and twenty students will be recruited randomly by stratified method according to the students' distribution in the colleges. The survey will be conducted by distributing questionnaires to the students in order to gather information about the prevalence of cosmetic dentistry and the tendency of university students to undergo cosmetic procedures. Upon receiving the results, we will be able to compare the demands of our society to the supply of cosmetic dental clinics. In this way, we can work to distribute them geographically on the basis of the major concerns of each area. By having a background of the dental awareness in our society and what they are expecting from a dental treatment, we will be able to enhance our knowledge and application to fulfill patients’ desires.