Method: 355 patients with a dentofacial disharmony were enrolled in an IRB approved longitudinal prospective study from July 2003 through April 2012. Patients completed self-report questionnaires before and 6 and 52 weeks after surgery. Scores for problems with facial sensation (PFS), post surgical perception (PSP), perception of occlusion and function (PSPOF) and satisfaction (SAT) were calculated as the average of strongly disagree (1) to strongly agree (7) responses to the items on each questionnaire. A linear mixed model with a significance level of 0.05 was used to analyze the effect of patient self-reported problems and perceptions on satisfaction with function after surgery. An unstructured covariance structure was assumed between 6 weeks and 52 weeks. All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.2.
Result: 65% of patients were female; the average age was 22.59 (sd = 8.5). 36.9% had both maxillary and mandibular osteotomy, 28.73% mandibular osteotomy only and 34.37% maxillary osteotomy only. As patients’ self-reported post-surgery recovery issues increased their satisfaction decreased (P<0.001). Patients who reported greater concern with altered facial sensation or with occlusal and oral function problems reported less satisfaction with function (P<0.005 and P<0.001 respectively) Satisfaction with function was lower at 6 weeks than it was at 52 weeks (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: Even though satisfaction with oral function increases over time, the perception of functional recovery and problems with altered sensation are strongly associated with patients’ satisfaction with oral function following surgery. These findings corroborate the importance of preparation before surgery regarding realistic perceptions and expectations along with patient education after surgery in supporting patients during recovery.