An Overview of Dentofacial Deformity and How It Affects the Quality of Life

Abstract

Quality of life is described as an individual’s perception of well-being that is derived from contentment or discontentment with the aspects of life that are valuable to them. Health related quality of life is a performance indicator for studying individuals or populations as well as in public health surveillance. The increasing demand for scales to estimate oral health-related quality of life has resulted in the creation of multiple instruments. Oral Health Impact Profile is among the most frequently utilized tools to gauge individuals’ perceptions of the psychosocial effect of dental conditions on their overall well-being. Dentofacial deformity are facial and dental disproportionalities major enough to substantially impact the person’s quality of life. The condition is regarded as a handicap, due to its functional and social impact on the individual’s life, stemming from aberrations in the dental and facial components that distinguish them enough to necessitate wide range of lifestyle adjustments. Also, individuals with such deformities encounter challenges due to poor self-esteem and reduced self-confidence levels along with physiological issues. Female patients are significantly more predisposed to temporomandibular joint pain, headache, dyspnea, and presence of detrimental habits. A perception of social stigma, abandonment and segregation, challenges in interrelationships including problems in starting and progressing companionship, restrictions in everyday tasks, and difficulties in professional life and joblessness have been linked with dentofacial deformities related depression, adversely impacting the quality of life of such persons. Although these individuals choose to undergo orthodontic and orthognathic rehabilitation for the enhancements in physical appearance and physiological functions, the expectation of the psychosocial advantages like personality transformation, improved interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem is a crucial driver for this treatment decision.