title: Prospective evaluation of the psychosocial impact of the first 6 months of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance among young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the psychosocial impact of the first 6 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance among young adults and compare the results with those of a control group of patients awaiting treatment for malocclusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted with a sample of 120 patients on a waiting list for orthodontic treatment at a university. The participants were allocated to an experimental group submitted to treatment and a control group awaiting treatment. The groups were matched for sex and age. All participants were instructed to answer the Brazilian version of the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) at baseline and after 6 months. Statistical analysis involved the Wilcoxon test for the total PIDAQ score and the score of each subscale. All patients participated until the end of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences between baseline and the 6-month evaluation were found for the total PIDAQ score as well as the dental self-confidence and social impact subscales in both groups. No differences between baseline and the 6-month evaluation were found regarding the psychological impact or esthetic concern subscales in the control group. The patients in the experimental group reported greater esthetic impact 6 months after beginning treatment (P < .001). The first 6 months of orthodontic treatment seem to improve psychosocial impact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The first 6 months of orthodontic treatment seem to improve the psychosocial impact of malocclusion. The patients analyzed in the present study reported a greater esthetic impact and less psychological impact after 6 months of using an orthodontic appliance.
authors.affiliation: a  Postgraduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Vale do Rio Verde University (UNINCOR), Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata França
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.affiliation: b  Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos-Jorge
authors.affiliation: b  Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Silva
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: c  Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Saul Martins
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: de Paiva
authors.affiliation: d  Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, UNINCOR, Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camilo Aquino
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Melgaço
authors.affiliation: d  Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, UNINCOR, Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Alessandra
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pazzini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Malocclusion; Orthodontics; Quality of life