The long-term influence of orthodontic treatment on adults' psychosocial outcomes: An Australian cohort study.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the influence of orthodontic treatment on psychosocial outcomes in 30-year-olds. The research hypothesis tested was that participants previously treated orthodontically would have better psychosocial outcomes.

SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION

A prospective longitudinal cohort design was used to follow-up a sample of 1859 30-year-olds from Adelaide, South Australia, who had previously participated in an oral epidemiology study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical examination in 1988-1989 recorded participants' malocclusion severity. In 2005-2006, participants were invited to complete a questionnaire collecting data on socio-demographic characteristics, dental health behaviours, receipt of orthodontic treatment and psychosocial factors. Data were analysed descriptively and by linear regression models.

RESULTS

Data for 448 participants were available; 56% of participants were female. Over a third of participants had received orthodontic treatment. Higher income earners had the best psychosocial outcomes while participants with a basic level of secondary education had the lowest. Regardless of initial malocclusion severity, orthodontic treatment was not associated with better psychosocial outcomes. Instead, a pattern of better psychosocial outcome was observed amongst untreated participants, regardless of malocclusion severity, this being significant for optimism. Adjusted models controlling for socio-demographic, dental health behaviour and malocclusion severity showed no association between orthodontic treatment and self-efficacy, health competence or social support. There was, however, a strong association with optimism.

CONCLUSION

There was no difference in long-term psychosocial outcomes based on orthodontic treatment. Our study does not support the contention that orthodontic treatment produces better psychosocial functioning later in life.