Effect of incisor position on the self-perceived psychosocial impacts of malocclusion among Chinese young adults

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of the incisor position on the self-perceived psychosocial impacts of malocclusion among Chinese young adults. This cross-sectional study included a convenience sample of 17.1- to 22.3-year-old young adults (n = 1005). The five groups represented were normal occlusion as well as incisor Class I, Class II/1, Class II/2, and Class III malocclusion. For clinical assessment, the incisor relationship was evaluated according to the British Standards Institute Incisor Classification, and the self-perception of dental esthetics was assessed using the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ). Statistical analysis involved the analysis of variance and Tukey multiple-comparison post hoc tests. Psychosocial impacts were different among the five groups for the four PIDAQ domains (P < .001 for all four domains). Statistically significant differences were found between the four malocclusion groups and the normal occlusion group in all four domains (P < .001 for all four domains). Furthermore, statistically significant differences were found between four malocclusion groups. All four malocclusion groups had more severe psychosocial impacts than the normal occlusion group in the four PIDAQ domains. Statistically significant differences were also found between the four malocclusion groups; these malocclusion groups ranked by score, highest to lowest, were Class III, Class II/1, Class II/2, and Class I.