Fixed orthodontic appliance therapy and its impact on oral health-related quality of life in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) during fixed orthodontic appliance therapy in Chinese patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two-hundred fifty Chinese orthodontic patients completed six distinct intervals of the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14, Chinese version): before treatment (T0); after the placement of the fixed appliance at 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4); and posttreatment (T5).

RESULTS

The overall response rate was 88.8% (222 of 250). Significant differences of overall OHIP-14 scores could be found between any two time points (P < .001), except for between T0 and T2 (P > .05) and between T3 and T4 (P > .05). Overall scores at T1 were significantly higher than the scores at the other intervals (P < .001), with a significant change in the scores on physical pain (P < .001), psychological discomfort (P < .001), and physical disability (P < .001). Scores at T5 were lowest among the six time points (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Fixed orthodontic appliance therapy did affect Chinese patients' OHRQoL. Patients were considerably compromised in terms of their overall OHRQoL until approximately 1 month after insertion. The severity of the compromised condition in terms of overall OHRQoL was greatest at 1 week with the reported impact on physical pain, psychological discomfort, and physical disability. Patients' OHRQoL was better after they completed the orthodontic treatment than before or during treatment.