title: Quality of life and its importance in orthodontics.
abstract: Over the last 10-15 years, the terms quality of life (QOL) and health-related quality of life (HRQL) have been seen increasingly in medical literature. Much of the orthodontic treatment that is undertaken is justified on the basis of improving health-related quality of life. With this in mind, studying HRQL in orthodontic patients has the potential to provide information about treatment needs and outcomes, and may also facilitate improved care. Clinicians should therefore be aware of some of the ways in which health-related quality of life may be assessed. The first part of this review article looks at the general concepts of health-related quality of life, whilst the second section focuses on dentistry and orthodontics.
authors.affiliation: Orthodontic Department, Eastman Dental Institute, University College London, 256 Gray's Inn Road, London, WC1X 8LD, UK. S.Cunningham@eastman.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009909:Oral Health; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome