Development and validation of the periodontal aesthetic perception scale in patients with periodontal problems

Aim The aim of this study was to develop and validate a periodontal aesthetic-specific tool to assess aesthetic conditions perceived by patients with periodontal problems. Materials and MethodsResultsHundred patients were interviewed that described the nonaesthetic gingival appearance. An item pool with 22 items was generated. Subsequently, expert opinion on the selected item pool was gathered. In accordance with expert opinions, the questionnaire was finalized by reducing the number of items to 7. The questionnaire tested on three patient groups (gingival recession group, gingival enlargement group and periodontal healthy group). Then, the validity and reliability of the questionnaire were examined. According to the results of the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), 1 item was removed from the scale. The final 6-item questionnaire was shown to have a two-domain structure. Cronbach's alpha for the whole scale was 0.766. The interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) values were between 0.98 and 1.00, demonstrating excellent agreement. Overall, these findings indicated that the Periodontal Aesthetic Perception Scale (PAPS) has good reliability. ConclusionThis reliable, valid and short questionnaire specific to aesthetic conditions perceived by patients with periodontal problems may serve as a valued instrument in future clinical trials.