Survey of oral health-related quality of life among skeletal malocclusion patients following orthodontic treatment and orthognathic surgery.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this work was to conduct a survey of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among skeletal malocclusion patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment combined with orthognathic surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 28 patients who had undergone orthodontic therapy combined with orthognathic surgery (surgical repositioning osteotomy) to treat skeletal malocclusion. OHRQoL was assessed based on a 14-item German version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G14) and an additional questionnaire developed by the authors to evaluate aspects of quality of life specific to skeletal malocclusion patients.

RESULTS

The mean OHIP-G14 score demonstrates that the malocclusion patients have a lower OHRQoL than the general population. The information collected via our skeletal malocclusion questionnaire correlates with the patients' perceived esthetic and functional outcomes of treatment as well as their psychological state and social interactions. Satisfaction with treatment outcomes and improved social interactions correlated with high OHRQoL scores. High OHRQoL scores significantly correlated with enhanced well-being and the intensification of social contacts.

CONCLUSION

Our skeletal malocclusion questionnaire provides useful additional information on specific aspects of skeletal malocclusion patients, mapping in a detailed fashion aspects of function, esthetics, psychological condition, and social interactions. OHIP-G14 scores correlated negatively with OHRQoL.