Oral health–related quality of life changes during phase 1 Class II malocclusion treatment using Frankel 2 and Twin-block appliances: A short-term follow-up study

Abstract

Orthodontic treatment procedures affect oral health-related quality of life. This study analyzed and compared the patients using the Frankel 2 Regulator (FR2) and Twin-block (TB) orthodontic appliances. This follow-up observational study comprised adolescents aged 10-16 years with Class II malocclusion seeking orthodontic treatment, between April and December 2019, in a private orthodontic clinic. Following the finalization of orthodontic clinical decisions, 88 patients, in a 1:1 ratio, using FR2 (n= 44) and TB (n= 44) appliances, were invited to participate in this study. An Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire was answered by the participants at 5-time points: before treatment, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after wearing functional appliances. A mixed model for repeated measurements tested the OHIP-14 score mean differences over time among appliance groups and group by time interaction. The TB group consisted of 15 males and 29 females, and the FR2 group included 21 males and 23 females. The mean age of participants was 12.18 ± 1.29 years. The mean of OHIP-14 scores in FR2 users was significantly lower than the TB appliance group at all intervals (P<0.05). Although the total score of OHIP-14 increased 1 week after appliance wearing, it declined during the 1, 3, and 6 months after wearing appliances in both groups. The results can help orthodontists better select treatment approaches by considering their effect on oral health-related quality of life.