Impact of Angle malocclusions on oral health related quality of life in adolescents

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the impact of Angle Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in children aged 11 to 14 years. Methods The Turkish version of the Child Perception Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14) was administered to 83 individuals with a Class I malocclusion, 111 individuals with a Class II Division 1 malocclusion, and 63 individuals with a Class III malocclusion. The CPQ11-14 was used to evaluate the OHRQOL of children aged between 11 and 14 years. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions which evaluated oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being. Results No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in relation to the individual’s CPQ11-14 total scores and subscale scores for oral symptoms, functional limitations, and emotional well-being (p > 0.05), except for the social wellbeing subscale. Patients with a Class III malocclusion had significantly higher social well-being scores compared to individuals with a Class I malocclusion. Conclusions A Class III malocclusion may negatively impact on the social well-being of adolescents. Early diagnosis of a Class III malocclusion and the application of early orthopaedic treatment may prevent the negative impact on a child’s social well-being.