ASSESSING SMILE SATISFACTION AND NEEDS OF DENTAL IMPROVEMENT TREATMENTS AMONG DENTISTS, INTERNS, AND STUDENTS IN YEMEN

Background and aims: Individual differences in how they view beauty may have an impact on their desire for cosmetic procedures. Several studies have compared dentists' perceptions of smile treatments with the general public. However, few studies have compared the perceptions of dental students, interns, and recent dental graduates with those of a similar group of dental professionals. This study aimed to compare how dental students perceive dental smiles and the extent to which they seek dental enhancement treatments. Methods: A cross-sectional study be directed at dental students in their final two years, trainee students, dentists, and specialists in Yemen using a written questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed and distributed by the researchers. The study included 264 students and 65 dentists, including general dentists, periodontists, orthodontists, endodontics, surgical dentists, operative dentists, prosthodontics, and pediatric dentists. Results: The study found that 79.6% of participants were confident about their overall teeth, while 75.7% were confident about their tooth color, size, shape, and alignment. The study found that 40.4% of participants had crowding, 14.3% had gaps, 12.8% had fractures, and 37.1% had dental caries. 16.7% did not have cosmetic restorations, and 9.7% suffered from protruding teeth. 14% experienced a deep bite, while 4.9% experienced an open bite. The study found that 25.8% of participants sought orthodontic treatment, while 35.9% desired other treatments to improve their appearance. The majority (22.5%) preferred teeth whitening, while 39.2% prioritized function, while 53.2% prioritized aesthetics. Conclusion: The study reveals that students, trainees, and dentists all respond positively to smile improvement procedures, showing satisfaction with their smiles and understanding the potential negative effects.                   Peer Review History: Received 12 April 2025;   Reviewed 18 May 2025; Accepted 22 June; Available online 15 July 2025 Academic Editor: Dr. Ali Abdullah Al-yahawi, Al-Razi university, Department of Pharmacy, Yemen, alyahawipharm@yahoo.com Reviewers: Prof. Abdulwahab Ismail Al-kholani, Dean of Faculty of Dentistry at 21 September University, Yemen. prof_khholani@yahoo.com Prof. Ahmed Kadry Ibrahim Ibrahim Hassan, Atos pharma-Seke, Egypt, kadry_ibrahim173@yahoo.com