Do changes in oral health-related quality-of-life, facial pain and temporomandibular disorders correlate after treatment of severe malocclusion?
BACKGROUND
The aim was to evaluate the relationships of changes in facial pain, temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) and oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in adults who underwent orthodontic or orthodontic/surgical treatment.


METHODS
Sixty-four patients (46 women, 18 men, range 18-64 years) with severe malocclusion and functional problems were treated in Oulu University Hospital. Of these, 44 underwent orthodontic-surgical and 20 orthodontic treatment. Data were collected with questionnaires and clinical stomatognathic examinations before and on average 3 years after treatment. The OHRQoL was measured with OHIP-14 (The Oral Health Impact Profile), the intensity of facial pain with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the severity of TMD with the Helkimo's anamnestic (Ai) and clinical (Di) dysfunction indices.


RESULTS
A significant improvement was found in facial pain, signs and symptoms of TMD and OHRQoL after the treatment (p < 0.05). The decrease in VAS was associated with improvement in OHIP-14 severity (r = 0.296, p = 0.019). The correlations between changes in OHIP-14 severity and Ai and Di were not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of severe malocclusion seemed to improve OHRQoL via decreased facial pain. Decreased facial pain was associated especially with improved OHRQoL dimensions of physical pain, physical disability and social disability.
a 1 Department of Orthodontics, Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, MRC, Oulu University Hospital , Oulu, Finland.
Anna-Sofia
AS
Silvola
b 2 Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku , Turku, Finland.
Mimmi
M
Tolvanen
a 1 Department of Orthodontics, Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, MRC, Oulu University Hospital , Oulu, Finland.
Jaana
J
Rusanen
c 3 Institute of Dentistry, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio, Finland.|d 4 Kuopio University Hospital , Kuopio, Finland.
Kirsi
K
Sipilä
b 2 Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku , Turku, Finland.
Satu
S
Lahti
a 1 Department of Orthodontics, Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, MRC, Oulu University Hospital , Oulu, Finland.
Pertti
P
Pirttiniemi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D024343:Open Bite / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D009909:Oral Health; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000379:methods; D056948:Orthognathic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D019340:Osteotomy, Le Fort / Q000379:methods; D059229:Osteotomy, Sagittal Split Ramus / Q000379:methods; D057887:Overbite / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D011788:Quality of Life; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
Temporomandibular disorders; orofacial pain; orthodontic treatment; orthognathic surgery; quality-of-life