Year : 2017

Volume : Volume 7

Issue : Issue 3

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Sreekanth C.A.B
Sreekanth@gmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Malocclusion is often so evident that  it leads to adverse social reactions and a deficient selfconcept. Evidence has been produced to the effect that patients with malocclusions have a poorer quality of life in terms of oral health than do patients with balanced occlusions. Hence the present study was undertaken to study the oral health-related quality of life in adults with malocclusion.  Material and Methods: The present study was conducted among 200 adult orthodontic patients aged 18 years or above undergoing treatment for malocclusion belonging to Rayalaseema population. The oral health-related quality of life was measured using the TOQOL The TOQOL evaluated oral health-related quality of life in 5 sphere of influence that comprises role, oral health,  social, emotional  and physical. The impact was calculated by a scoring program. Means and sums were calculated for each sphere.  Results: The overall physical functioning domain scores were 10.53, for oral problems was 13.42, for role functioning was 2.79, for emotional functioning was 14.48 and for Social functioning was 29.72. The impact score for patients with grade 4 or 5 index of orthodontic treatment need was 16.52±4.83 and for patients with grade 2 or 3 was 12.73±3.64.  Conclusion: Malocclusion is an important factor associated with poor quality of life caused by social,  oral function and emotional disability in young adults. The present study found that  patients with malocclusion have negative impact on quality of life and are more affected by social factor.

Keywords: Esthetics; Malocclusion; Oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL).