Influence of malocclusion on OHRQoL in adolescents in initial orthodontic treatment phase

Linda Schwarz; Victor Ossmann; Valentin Ritschl; Tanja Stamm; Erwin Jonke; Katrin Bekes

doi:10.1007/s00784-024-05689-0

Influence of malocclusion on OHRQoL in adolescents in initial orthodontic treatment phase

Clin Oral Investig. 2024 Apr 30;28(5):286. doi: 10.1007/s00784-024-05689-0.

Authors

Linda Schwarz¹, Victor Ossmann², Valentin Ritschl³, Tanja Stamm³, Erwin Jonke¹, Katrin Bekes⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthodontics, Medical University Vienna, University Clinic of Dentistry, Sensengasse 2a, Vienna, 1090, Austria.
² Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Medical University Vienna, University Clinic of Dentistry, Sensengasse 2a, Vienna, 1090, Austria.
³ Center for Medical Data Science, Institute for Outcomes Research, Medical University of Vienna, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Arthritis and Rehabilitation, Spitalgasse 23, Vienna, 1090, Austria.
⁴ Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Medical University Vienna, University Clinic of Dentistry, Sensengasse 2a, Vienna, 1090, Austria. katrin.bekes@meduniwien.ac.at.

Abstract

Objectives: Besides correcting malocclusions, another main objective of orthodontic treatment is to improve patients' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to assess changes in OHRQoL of children within the first six months of orthodontic therapy with fixed orthodontic appliances.

Methods: 85 patients aged 11 to 14 years requiring fixed orthodontic appliance therapy were included. The children completed the German version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ-G-11-14) before (T0), 1 month (T1) and 6 months (T2) after the start of orthodontic treatment. The type of malocclusion was categorized according to the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN).

Results: The initial type of malocclusion affected the children's OHRQoL, whereas gender and age did not. The IOTN dental health component (DHC) had a significant impact on the CPQ score (median CPQ of 15.00 for the group DHC 4 vs. 22.50 for DHC 5, p = 0.032). The onset of orthodontic treatment initially affected the CPQ domains "Oral symptoms" and "Functional limitations, with a change versus baseline of 2.00 (p = 0.001), but improved again after 6 months. Regression analysis demonstrated that children with an IOTN DHC 5 malocclusion experienced a greater impact on their ORHQoL, as indicated by a CPQ score 7.35 points higher than that of children with an IOTN DHC 4 malocclusion (p = 0.015).

Conclusions: At the beginning of orthodontic treatment, the OHRQoL slightly worsens, probably due to the discomfort and appearance of the appliances. However, 6 months after the start of orthodontic treatment, OHRQoL improved again in patients with severe malocclusion (IOTN 4 and 5), and approached baseline values.

Clinical relevance: The results help the clinician to better understand specific aspects of oral health that may be affected by different malocclusions, thereby improving the child's satisfaction and overall quality of life.

Keywords: Child perceptions questionnaire (CPQ); Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL); Orthodontic treatment.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Child
Female
Germany
Humans
Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need
Male
Malocclusion* / therapy
Oral Health*
Orthodontic Appliances, Fixed
Orthodontics, Corrective
Quality of Life*
Surveys and Questionnaires