Abstract
(1) Objective: To investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-esteem (SE) of a population with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) and to compare it with a non-affected control cohort. (2) Materials and methods: This study comprised 91 CLP patients and a control group of 790 individuals, seeking orthodontic treatment. OHRQoL and SE were assessed by the Child’s Perception Questionnaire (CPQ) and the Dutch adaptation of the Harter’s Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents. Treatment need and self-perception of oral aesthetic were assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Oral Aesthetic Subjective Impact Scale (OASIS). Patients’ expectations and motivation for treatment were also scored. Linear models were used for statistical comparisons between groups. (3) Results: The cleft group scored higher in all domains of the CPQ, OASIS, IOTN and regarding SE for the domains of scholastic competence, athletic competence, physical appearance and behavioral conduct. The cleft group was not only more motivated and expected less discomfort during treatment but also had higher expectations for the treatment outcome. (4) Conclusions: The OHRQoL of CLP patients is strongly correlated with the presence of an oral cleft, while SE remains a personal resource not influenced by the malocclusion or medical condition.
Highlights
Clefts are the most common congenital anomaly in the orofacial region
oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) depends on the degree of malocclusion
SE, contrariwise, is a stable, personal-depending factor, which should be taken into consideration when engaging in treatment of cleft palate (CLP) patients
Summary
Clefts are the most common congenital anomaly in the orofacial region. Their etiology is still unclear: it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors are involved.The prevalence of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) varies between the different ethnicities and is higher in the Asian population, followed by Caucasian and African populations [1]. Clefts are the most common congenital anomaly in the orofacial region. Their etiology is still unclear: it is believed that both genetic and environmental factors are involved. CLP occurs more frequently in boys than in girls and the prevalence of this condition varies around 1.7 per 1000 live births [2] with left-sided clefts being twice as common as right-sided clefts [3]. The oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) has been defined as “The impact of oral disorders on aspects of everyday life that a patient or person values, that are of sufficient magnitude, in terms of frequency, severity or duration to affect their experience and perception of life” [4]
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