Impact of malocclusions on oral health-related quality of life among adolescents.

Abstract

Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, non-randomized and observational studies, and previous systematic reviews if matching PECOS strategy. The protocol of the study was registered on PROSPERO. An electronic search was conducted in the following five databases: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and CINAHL. The search was carried out to cover the literature up to June 15, 2022. In addition, ClinicalTrials.gov and PROSPERO were searched for detecting any relevant unpublished data and ongoing studies. The review was defined in PECOS format as follows: population (P), healthy adolescents (ASA Class I or II; age 10-19); Exposure (E), malocclusion and/or need of orthodontic therapy as determined by professionals utilizing validated standardized tools such as Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need, Peer Assessment Rating, Dental Aesthetic Index, or any well-described tool; comparison (C), no malocclusion and/or need of orthodontic therapy as determined by professionals utilizing validated standardized tools; outcome (O), self-reported oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using validated tools; study design (S), randomized clinical trials, non-randomized/observational studies (prospective and cross-sectional studies with untreated/no-malocclusion controls), and previous systematic reviews if matching PECOS strategy. Studies assessing ASA Class III or higher, craniofacial conditions, previous or ongoing orthodontic or surgical treatment, and case studies were excluded. Screening and data extraction and management, risk of bias (RoB), and quality assessments were conducted by four independent investigators. RoB was assessed based on the guidelines of the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services. A total of 13 studies (non-randomized studies of cross-sectional design) were included in the qualitative synthesis, of which, 4 studies were included in the quantitative synthesis. Meta-analysis showed that malocclusions (measured with DAI) in adolescents aged 11-14 years old have a negative impact on OHRQoL (measured with CPQ 11-14 short form) (number of studies = 4, rate ratio/prevalence ratio = 1.15, 95% confidence interval = 1.12-1.18, I2 = 0.03%, Q3 = 0.09, certainty level = moderate). Moderate level of evidence suggests that malocclusions in adolescents have a negative impact on the oral health-related quality of life.