Personality Shapes How Patients Perceive Tooth Whitening Results
A new study reveals that the glow from tooth whitening isn’t just about the shade, it’s about the person behind the smile. Results show that while whitening can boost self-confidence in the short term, personality traits such as perfectionism and neuroticism strongly influence whether that boost lasts.
Tooth color plays a major role in facial attractiveness, self-confidence, and social integration. Dissatisfaction with tooth shade drives the popularity of whitening treatments, which promise brighter smiles and improved self-esteem. Traditionally, oral health professionals assessed tooth color using shade guides, but more objective spectrophotometry now measures lightness (L*), redness-greenness (a*), and yellowness-blueness (b*).
Published in Head and Face Medicine, the recent study tracked patients undergoing professional whitening over 1 year, comparing them with a placebo group. As expected, active treatment produced a noticeable short-term color change, significantly reducing the psychological and social impact of dental esthetics. Surprisingly, a similar reduction was observed in the placebo group, suggesting a strong placebo effect, likely driven by patient expectations.
However, the glow didn’t always last. Long-term follow-up revealed that tooth color in the whitening group relapsed significantly, eroding earlier psychological gains. In contrast, the placebo group’s stress about dental appearance continued to decline over time. The findings indicate that initial excitement may give way to disappointment if patients expect lasting perfection.
Crucially, personality traits strongly shaped outcomes. Perfectionistic patients tended to notice even minor color changes, experiencing greater short-term boosts in self-confidence but sharper declines when relapse occurred. Neurotic individuals were more likely to remain dissatisfied, regardless of the whitening’s effectiveness, while emotionally stable and conscientious people maintained a more positive view.
Interestingly, personality moderated results in both active and placebo groups, showing that perception mattered as much as reality. The study highlights the importance of aligning patient expectations with realistic outcomes. Digital mock-ups before treatment could help, especially for younger adults influenced by celebrity smiles. It also reinforces that a “one-size-fits-all” approach is inadequate, tailoring communication and follow-up care to personality profiles may improve satisfaction. Click here to read more.
