Influence of orthodontic treatment on adolescents' self-perceptions of esthetics.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this prospective evaluation was to assess changes in esthetic self-perception of Brazilian adolescents who were receiving fixed orthodontic treatment during a 2-year period.


METHODS
The treatment group consisted of 92 patients, ages 12 to 15 years, treated at the Rio de Janeiro State University orthodontic clinic. The control group consisted of 226 untreated adolescents; 124 subjects were waiting for treatment at this clinic, and 102 subjects were attending public school and had never undergone or sought treatment. The index of orthodontic treatment need was used to assess malocclusion severity, esthetic status (measured by an orthodontist), and esthetic self-perception. All subjects were interviewed 3 times during the study: at baseline; 1 year after placement of the fixed appliance for the treatment group and 1 year after the first interview for the school and waiting groups; and 2 years after placement of the fixed appliance for the treatment group and 2 years after the first interview for the school and waiting groups. The index of orthodontic treatment need scores were analyzed by using negative binomial regression in generalized estimating equations for correlated data.


RESULTS
During the follow-up period, the treatment group's esthetic self-perception scores had a statistically significant decrease (P <0.01), the waiting group's scores had an increase (P = 0.08), and the school group's scores were stable (P = 0.79). At baseline, the treatment group had an esthetic self-perception score of 96% (risk ratio = 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.70-2.26) higher than the school group, but at the final interview, the treatment group's score was 20% lower (risk ratio = 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.68-0.96) than the initial score of the school group. Age; sex; the index of decayed, missing, and filled teeth; and socioeconomic position did not affect the adolescents' esthetic self-perceptions at follow up, but malocclusion severity and the group had a significant interaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Fixed orthodontic treatment in patients 12 to 15 years of age significantly improved their esthetic self-perceptions.
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. danifeutz@yahoo.com.br
Daniela
D
Feu
Branca H
BH
Oliveira
Roger K
RK
Celeste
Jose Augusto M
JA
Miguel
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012923:Social Class