KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS ABOUT DENTAL VENEERS AMONG SAUDI POPULATIONS
Abstract
Background: Veneer is broadly used in aesthetic dentistry to create a beautiful smile by covering the surface of the teeth. The Hollywood smile was first introduced to the idea of veneering anterior teeth with laminates in 1928. In the modern world, patients are more conscious about their teeth appearance due to improving living standards and greater knowledge of oral health care. In addition to this, Saudi Arabia surveys reveal that 46% of respondents are unaware of ceramic veneers, with differences based on gender, education, marital status, and family income. Younger individuals and graduates are more aware of dental aesthetics, promoting better dental care. Objectives: To measure the knowledge and awareness level about dental veneers among the Saudi population. Methodology: A cross-sectional study in both English and Arabic languages was conducted using an online survey of the adult Saudi population between the ages of 18 and 60 in the period from July to December 2024. The questionnaire consisted of 20 questions. The questionnaire was divided into three sections; the first section asked about the participants' personal information, the second section was about general knowledge of dental veneers, and the third section was about awareness of dental veneers. All the data was analyzed by using the statistical analysis software (SPSS) program, version 20 (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results: The study included 498 Saudi participants aged between 27-45, primarily married and single adults. The majority used veneers to cover fractured teeth and improve tooth aesthetics. The majority valued color and shape over the procedure. Most were aware of dental veneers, but only 13.1% were current users. Some believed they could cause color changes or gingival infections. A large percentage agreed that veneers could live longer if cleaned properly. Conclusion: The results of our study revealed that the Saudi population is highly aware of dental veneers, where 67.3% of respondents reported a high knowledge level, and there was mostly moderate awareness. Despite that, only 13.1% of participants are current users, which indicates a gap between knowledge and adoption. Furthermore, our results show that in both knowledge and awareness levels, there was a statistically insignificant relation to gender, age, marital status, educational level, occupational status, monthly income, nationality, and residential area.