Oral health-related quality of life and the index of orthodontic treatment need to evaluate the association of patients' self-perceived need and normative need toward orthodontic treatment

Abstract

Aims: To assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with malocclusion and to measure the association of OHRQoL with orthodontic treatment need. Materials and Methods: The study sample comprised 290 participants aged 13 to 30 years, attending orthodontic clinics at the Faculty of Dentistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College (MMMC). The participants were asked to complete the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), after which clinical examinations were conducted to assess normative orthodontic treatment needs using the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Results: A total of 290 adolescent and young adults participated in this study. The mean overall score for OHIP-14 was 11.8(±8.0). There was no significant association of oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) between different age groups, gender, ethnicities and education levels. There was no significant association between age, gender, ethnicity, education level and orthodontic treatment need. Also, there was no significant association of OHIP-14 score between no treatment need and little treatment need. However, OHIP-14 score was significantly higher in borderline treatment need compared to no treatment need (6.06, 95% CI 1.07, 11.04), little treatment need (3.95, 95% CI 1.75, 6.16) while high treatment need had significantly higher OHIP-14 score than borderline treatment need (7.13, 95% CI 3.46, 10.80). Conclusion: Malocclusion has a significant negative impact on OHRQoL. There is a significant association in mean overall OHIP score when comparing high orthodontic treatment needs and with no treatment needs. This study did not find any significant association in orthodontic treatment needs in relation to age groups, gender, ethnicities and education level.