Abstract
Self-awareness of poorly arranged teeth can influence the quality of life. This study aimed to report the impacts of self-perceived malocclusion in young adults and the association between demographic characteristics and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). In this cross-sectional study, six-hundred-forty-three subjects from Selangor, Malaysia selected using a multistage sampling technique answered the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics (PIDA) questionnaire and self-rated their dental appearance using the Aesthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need. Data were analyzed using multifactorial ANOVA to identify the association between demographic characteristics and total PIDA score. Five-hundred-twenty-four subjects (81.5%) completed the questionnaires. Overall, 87.8% had impacts on their OHRQoL. Psychological impact was the most impacted domain (75.8%), followed by dental self-confidence (59.4%), social impact (48.9%) and aesthetic concern (22.1%). 16.8% reported significant impacts on all domains. Their mean PIDA score was 36.3 (SD 17.1). Prevalence, extent and severity of impacts were higher amongst those with self-perceived malocclusion. Gender, ethnicity, and self-perceived malocclusion status were associated with PIDA score (p < 0.05). Sub-urban and rural females had significantly higher PIDA scores than sub-urban and rural males. In conclusion, majority of Malaysian young adults especially those with self-perceived malocclusion were impacted by their dental aesthetics.
Highlights
The teeth are one of the prominent structures that refines the facial aesthetics
Epidemiological research to establish the prevalence of impact of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in populations is important to establish the perceived needs for orthodontic treatment
An initial check showed that 37 subjects who answered the questionnaire had orthodontic treatment and were excluded from the study
Summary
The teeth are one of the prominent structures that refines the facial aesthetics. Adults have expressed dissatisfaction with their dental appearance [1], with the younger individuals finding dental appearance more important than the elderly [2]. Self-awareness of one’s malocclusion is one of the features of the teeth that has been shown to induce a negative relationship between one’s social well-being and quality of life [3,4]. Those seeking treatment perceive that orthodontics would straighten their teeth and enhance their self-confidence and facial appearance through improvement of their dental health [5]. Epidemiological research to establish the prevalence of impact of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in populations is important to establish the perceived needs for orthodontic treatment. Past studies have established the prevalence of oral impacts associated with malocclusion in the German naval [6] and Brazilian army [7]
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