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.
Chen
Mu
M
Guanghua College of Stomatology, and Lab of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Wang
Da-Wei
DW
Wu
Li-Ping
LP
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