title: Effect of orthodontic treatment on oral health-related quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in children undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and compare it to that of two groups not receiving treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred eighty-four subjects aged 12-15 years were followed for 2 years; 87 were undergoing treatment at a university clinic (TG), 101 were waiting for treatment at this clinic (WG), and 96 were attending a public school and had never sought treatment (SG). OHQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). All subjects were examined and interviewed at baseline (T1), 1 year later (T2), and 2 years later (T3). OHIP-14 scores were analyzed using negative binomial regression in generalized estimating equations for correlated data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the follow-up period, the WG and TG OHIP-14 scores showed a statistically significant increase and decrease, respectively (P < .001). At T1, the TG had an OHIP-14 score that was 1.9 times higher than that of the SG; however at T3, the TG score was 60% lower than the initial score of the SG. Adjusting for age, gender, dental health status (DMFT), socioeconomic position, malocclusion severity, and self-perceived esthetics did not change the effect of orthodontic treatment on OHQoL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fixed orthodontic treatment in Brazilian children resulted in significantly improved OHQoL after 2 years.
authors.affiliation: Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. danifeutz@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Feu
authors.forename: Jose Augusto M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Celeste
authors.forename: Branca Heloisa
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oliveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004955:Esthetics, Dental / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D017289:Orthodontic Appliances, Functional; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome