Impact of the first eight months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients and to examine the evaluative properties of the Family Impact Scale (FIS). Materials and Methods: The study involved a sample of 94 parents/caregivers of adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance. The participants were asked to answer the Brazilian version of the FIS before treatment (T1) and 8 months after the bonding of the fixed appliance (T2). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Bonferroni correction for the overall score and FIS subscales. Responsiveness of the measure and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were also assessed. Results: Among the 94 participants initially admitted to the present study, two were excluded as a result of treatment dropout and failure to return the second questionnaire. Thus, a sample of 92 parents/caregivers participated (response rate: 97.8%). Among the 92 participants, 70 were the mothers of patients, 16 were fathers, and six were other family members. Statistically significant improvements were found in the overall score (P , .001) as well as in both parental activity and parental emotions subscales (P , .001). The reductions in scores were associated with effect sizes showing moderate clinically meaningful changes in the overall FIS and in the parental/family activity, parental emotions, and family conflict subscales. The MCID was 2.66 for the overall FIS. Conclusion: The first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance had a positive impact on the families of adolescents.

Impact of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life among schoolchildren

“…Concerning the subjective need for treatment perceived by children, it is also important to establish physical and emotional well-being in childhood and adolescence. Multicenter studies should be conducted to evaluate the impact of malocclusion on the OHRQoL of children and their families, 22 obtaining data that can assist in the establishment of health policies directed at the inclusion of multidisciplinary treatment so that health procedures can be implemented and made accessible to the population.…”

Quality of life of families of adolescents undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy: Evaluation of a cohort of parents/guardians of treated and untreated individuals

“…Our results have proved otherwise. Even though, the routine of parents/guardians might have been disrupted by the appointments for orthodontic treatment, 17 an improvement in the PA subscale has been demonstrated herein. Families of adolescents with malocclusion have a poorer QoL in comparison with families of adolescents with no occlusal discrepancy and the impact may generate family conflicts and detrimental effects on parents'/guardians' emotions.…”

“…23 This adverse impact on parental and family activities during adolescents' fixed appliance therapy may be associated with the concerns of parents/guardians regarding the time that they have to take off work due appointments with the orthodontist to bond and activate the fixed appliances. 17,23 The effect on these aspects may also be associated with the burden that wearing fixed appliances (concerns regarding the care that should be delivered to the appliances) may have on the daily activities of Abbreviations: FB, financial burden; FC, family conflict; FIS, Family Impact Scale; OL, overall; PA, parental/ family activity; PE, parental emotions; T1, before fixed appliance placement; T2, 1 mo after fixed appliance placement; T3, 6 mo after fixed appliance placement; T4, 12 mo after fixed appliance placement.…”

“…As far as we are aware, only one article prospectively assessed the effects of orthodontic therapy on the families of adolescent patients. 17 Nevertheless, a control group of families of adolescents not undergoing treatment was not included in this study. Thus, one may argue whether or not the alterations in QoL were indeed a result of the fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.…”

An Overview of Oral Health Related Quality of Life

“…Positive repercussions have also been observed for young individuals' parents/caregivers [38] and families [39].…”