Background <p>A compelling smile is integral to social interaction, influencing first impressions, self-confidence, and overall psychosocial well-being. As media and evolving beauty standards amplify the importance of dental esthetics, dental students, equipped with academic exposure to esthetic principles, are uniquely affected by these trends. Understanding their self-perception and the factors shaping it is crucial for their professional development and future patient-centered clinical practice.</p> Methods <p>This cross-sectional study evaluated dental esthetic self-perception and satisfaction among 481 undergraduate dental students. Data collected via a structured questionnaire captured sociodemographic information, self-reported satisfaction with dental appearance and perceived imperfections (e.g., alignment, color), and the influence of external factors, including social input and professional feedback.</p> Results <p>Participants demonstrated a consensus on the professional importance of dental esthetics, with nearly all believing ideal teeth improve quality of life (96.7%) and career prospects (88.4%). A significant majority reported esthetic concerns related to alignment (47.8%) and expressed a strong desire for teeth whitening (66.3%). Gender significantly influenced esthetic expectations: female students reported a higher desire for cosmetic procedures and were significantly more influenced by professional (64.2%) and social media (71.7%) feedback compared to males.</p> Conclusions <p>Dental students’ perceptions of their own esthetics are multifaceted, shaped by intrinsic expectations and significantly influenced by social and professional feedback. These findings highlight the need for dental faculties to foster psychosocial awareness and promote empathetic, patient-centered approaches to esthetic care that recognize the impact of societal and clinical ideals.</p>