Fixed orthodontic appliance therapy and its impact on oral health-related quality of life in Chinese patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) during fixed orthodontic appliance therapy in Chinese patients.


METHODS
Two-hundred fifty Chinese orthodontic patients completed six distinct intervals of the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14, Chinese version): before treatment (T0); after the placement of the fixed appliance at 1 week (T1), 1 month (T2), 3 months (T3), and 6 months (T4); and posttreatment (T5).


RESULTS
The overall response rate was 88.8% (222 of 250). Significant differences of overall OHIP-14 scores could be found between any two time points (P < .001), except for between T0 and T2 (P > .05) and between T3 and T4 (P > .05). Overall scores at T1 were significantly higher than the scores at the other intervals (P < .001), with a significant change in the scores on physical pain (P < .001), psychological discomfort (P < .001), and physical disability (P < .001). Scores at T5 were lowest among the six time points (P < .001).


CONCLUSIONS
Fixed orthodontic appliance therapy did affect Chinese patients' OHRQoL. Patients were considerably compromised in terms of their overall OHRQoL until approximately 1 month after insertion. The severity of the compromised condition in terms of overall OHRQoL was greatest at 1 week with the reported impact on physical pain, psychological discomfort, and physical disability. Patients' OHRQoL was better after they completed the orthodontic treatment than before or during treatment.
Guanghua College of Stomatology, and Lab of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Mu
M
Chen
Da-Wei
DW
Wang
Li-Ping
LP
Wu
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000293:Adolescent; D002681:China; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology