Aims: Our study aimed to assess the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) changes during the initial stage of fixed orthodontic appliance therapy and determined the impact of various orthodontic therapy needs on the OHRQoL of Saudi patients seeking orthodontic treatment.
Materials and methods: Forty-two patients aged 14-24 years (69% females) were recruited from the orthodontic clinics. OHRQoL was quantified by a self-administered short version of oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire used before treatment (T0) and following bonding of fixed appliance on days 1 (T1), 7 (T2), 14 (T3), and 30 (T4). The higher the OHIP-14 score, the poorer the OHRQoL. The dental health component (DHC) of the index of orthodontic treatment needs (IOTN) was used to assess malocclusion severity. The missing, overjet, crossbite, displacement, overbite (MOCDO) hierarchical scale was used to categorize the most severe feature in each patient and determine the grade of orthodontic treatment need. Changes of OHRQoL over time were compared using the Friedman test.
Result: Overall OHIP-14 score significantly increased following orthodontic appliance bonding at T1 and T2 compared to T0 (P < 0.001). The functional limitation domains in OHIP-14 pain and discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, and psychological discomfort were affected at T1 compared to T0 (P < 0.05). Grade 4 IOTN-DHC (definite treatment needs) significantly influenced most OHIP-14 domains compared to other grades.
Conclusion: With the growing therapeutic and cosmetic demands of orthodontic treatment and the focus on OHRQoL, the study findings can be used to enhance patients' cooperation, expectation, and adherence to orthodontic treatment.
Keywords: Fixed appliances; IOTN-DHC; OHIP-14; OHRQoL; orthodontic treatment.