Improvement on oral health related quality of life after orthosurgical treatment: a mixed methods study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the influence of orthosurgical treatment on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in patients with Class II and III skeletal malocclusion by conducting a mixed method case series study. Nineteen patients submitted to orthosurgical treatment in a private practice in Brazil were included in the sample. Data were collected retrospectively and interviews were held from March 2020 to July 2021. Patients answered to the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) in the first part of the interview and subsequently answered the qualitative questions. The overall mean of OHIP-14 after treatment was 4.21 (SD 4.68). The qualitative data were analyzed according to thematic analysis and four themes emerged from the interviews: a) concept of quality of life, b) pre-treatment life, c) post-treatment life, and d) positive and negative aspects of treatment. Quality of Life was reported by the patients as the absence of feeling pain, having emotional and physical health, having a satisfactory esthetic appearance and self-esteem. Before treatment, most Class II patients used to complain about breathing and sleeping problems, while Class III patients complained more intensely about esthetics. Pain was a common problem reported by both Class II and Class III patients. In general, improvement was perceived in self-esteem, esthetics, function and pain. Complaints about negative aspects of the treatment were restricted to the postoperative period. The orthosurgical treatment was important for improving the OHRQoL of patients in terms of esthetic, functional and psychosocial aspects.