Patient Satisfaction with the esthetic Outcome of Anterior Fixed Dental Bridges: A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Study

Abstract

Patient-reported satisfaction is an important outcome in evaluating the success of fixed prosthodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with the esthetic outcome of anterior fixed partial dentures (FPDs). A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a private dental clinic from March to August 2026 using a structured questionnaire administered to patients who had received anterior FPDs. The questionnaire assessed color matching, tooth shape, tooth size and proportion, gingival appearance, harmony with the smile line, and overall esthetic satisfaction. Data were analyzed using SPSS (version 23). Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, and correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (ρ), with a p-value <0.05 considered statistically significant. A total of 83 participants (mean age 45.63 years, range 18–80) were included, of whom 43% were male and 40 % were female. Maxillary bilateral FPDs were the most common configuration (54.2%), and PFM and all-ceramic restorations were similarly represented (45.8% and 44.6%, respectively). The highest satisfaction (satisfied or very satisfied) was observed for the final esthetic outcome (97.6%), followed by color matching, tooth shape, and harmony with the smile line (96.4% each). Gingival appearance had the highest proportion of dissatisfaction (12.0%). Satisfaction was not significantly correlated with gender, age, education level, prosthesis material, location, or duration of placement (p > 0.05). Anterior FPDs were generally associated with favorable patient-perceived esthetic outcomes, with gingival appearance being the dimension most in need of attention. These findings highlight the importance of soft-tissue management and individualized esthetic planning in anterior fixed prosthodontics, and larger longitudinal studies using validated esthetic indices are recommended.