Discomfort associated with fixed orthodontic appliances: determinant factors and influence on quality of life.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the determinant factors of discomfort attributed to the use of fixed orthodontic appliance and the effect on the quality of life of adolescents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Two hundred and seventy-two individuals aged between 9 and 18 years old, enrolled in public and private schools and undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance participated in this cross-sectional study. The participants were randomly selected from a sample comprising 62,496 individuals of the same age group. Data was collected by means of questionnaires and an interview. Discomfort intensity and bio-psychosocial variables were assessed using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance questionnaire. Self-esteem was determined using the Global Negative Self-Evaluation questionnaire. Statistical analysis involved the chi-square test and both simple and multiple Poisson regression analyses.

RESULTS:

Although most individuals did not present discomfort, there was a prevalence of 15.9% of impact on individuals' daily life exclusively due to the use of fixed orthodontic appliance. Age [PR: 3.2 (95% CI: 1.2-8.5)], speech impairment [PR: 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1-4.6)], poor oral hygiene [PR: 2.4 (95% CI: 1.2-4.8)] and tooth mobility [PR: 3.9 (95% CI: 1.8-8.1)] remained independently associated with a greater prevalence of discomfort (P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

Discomfort associated with the use of fixed orthodontic appliances exerted a negative influence on the quality of life of the adolescents comprising the present study. The determinants of this association were age, poor oral hygiene, speech impairment and tooth mobility.

• Authors: Leandro Silva Marques, Saul Martins Paiva, Raquel Gonçalves Vieira-Andrade, Luciano José Pereira, Maria Letícia Ramos-Jorge
• Journal: Dental press journal of orthodontics (Dental Press J Orthod) 2014 May-Jun Vol. 19 Issue 3 Pg. 102-7 ISSN: 2177-6709 [Electronic] Brazil
• PMID: 25162573 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Activities of Daily Living
• Adolescent
• Age Factors
• Attitude to Health
• Child
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Feeding and Eating Disorders (etiology, psychology)
• Female
• Gingival Hemorrhage (etiology, psychology)
• Halitosis (etiology, psychology)
• Humans
• Male
• Oral Hygiene
• Orthodontic Appliances (adverse effects)
• Pain (etiology, psychology)
• Quality of Life
• Self Concept
• Speech Disorders (etiology, psychology)
• Taste Disorders (etiology, psychology)
• Tooth Mobility (etiology, psychology)