Impact of malocclusion and common oral diseases on oral health-related quality of life in young adults.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to assess the association between malocclusion and oral health-related quality of life in young adults without orthodontic treatment, controlling for sociodemographic factors and common oral diseases.


METHODS
The sample consisted of 429 Korean patients (328 men, 101 women) 18 to 32 years of age. They completed the Korean version of the oral health impact profile-14 questionnaire and had a clinical examination, including an assessment with the index of orthodontic treatment need-dental health component. We collected sociodemographic information (age, sex, and education level) and evaluated other common oral diseases (decayed, missing, and filled teeth; periodontal health status; temporomandibular disorder; and oral soft tissue diseases).


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that patients requiring extensive orthodontic treatment were more than 2.7 times as likely to have poor oral health-related quality of life as the corresponding "no treatment needed" reference group (odds ratio, 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.60-4.59; P <0.001). Severe malocclusion is significantly associated with functional limitations, physical pain, and social disability in young adults.


CONCLUSIONS
Malocclusion is a key factor associated with poor quality of life caused by limited oral function, pain, and social disability in young adults.
Postgraduate student, Department of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Sung-Hwan
SH
Choi
Associate professor and chair, Department of Preventive Dentistry and Public Oral Health, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Baek-Il
BI
Kim
Associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, The Institute of Cranial-Facial Deformity, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Jung-Yul
JY
Cha
Professor, Department of Orthodontics, The Institute of Cranial-Facial Deformity, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: hwang@yuhs.ac.
Chung-Ju
CJ
Hwang
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004245:DMF Index; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000523:psychology*; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D009909:Oral Health; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010512:Periodontal Index; D011788:Quality of Life; D066107:Social Skills; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult