Change in quality of life after combined orthodontic-surgical treatment of dentofacial deformities
Received 15 April 2009; received in revised form 4 August 2009; accepted 11 August 2009.
Objective
To determine changes in quality of life (QoL) after orthodontic-surgical treatment in patients with dentofacial deformities, using generic health, generic oral health, and condition-specific QoL approaches.
Study design
Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0), postoperative 6 weeks (T1), postoperative 6 months (T2), and after orthodontic treatment (T3). Generic health-related QoL, generic oral health–related QoL, and condition-specific QoL were assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), the 14-item Short Form Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), and the 22-item Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), respectively.
Results
There were significant changes in Physical-Health Component Scores (PCS) (P < .001) and Mental-Health Component Scores (MCS) (P < .01) of SF-36, in OHIP-14 scores (P < .001), and in OQLQ scores (P < .001) during the trajectory of treatment. A transient decrease in PCS was found at T1 (P < .001) and an increase in MCS was found only at T3 (P < .05). There was a significant decrease in OHIP-14 scores at T2 and T3 (P < .001) and in OQLQ scores at all time points compared with T0 (P < .05).
Conclusion
Significant changes in QoL occurred after orthodontic-surgical treatment. A comprehensive assessment of QoL using generic health, generic oral health, and condition-specific approaches proved to be useful in determining the trajectory of changes.
aResident, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong; Former Resident, Hong Kong University, currently Registrar, National Dental Centre, Singapore
bRegistrar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, National Dental Centre, Singapore
cProfessor, Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
dProfessor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Reprint requests: Nabil Samman, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2/F, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong
ABSTRACT