Orthodontic Treatment Need and Oral Health Related Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES: To identify associations between orthodontic treatment need and impact of oral health on the life quality of children in Hong Kong. METHODS: A random sample of 547 12-year-old Hong Kong children participated in a study of the impact of oral health on life quality and orthodontic treatment need. The impact of oral health on the life quality of the children was assessed using the 36-item Child Oral Health related Quality of Life questionnaire (COHQOL), covering four domains: symptoms, functional limitations, emotional-well-being (EBW) and social-well-being (SWB). Orthodontic treatment need was assessed based on the aesthetic component of Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) – the SCAN scale, and on children’s own perceptions of the need for orthodontic treatment. RESULTS: Five hundred and four of assessments were usable (92%, 504/547). Impact of oral health on life quality was immense: most reported one or more oral symptoms (98%, 496/504), functional limitations (82%, 413/504) and that their oral health affected them emotionally (68%, 348/504) and socially (62%, 314/504). Employing the SCAN scale, 84% (424) were graded as having no orthodontic need, 11% (55) of having borderline need and 5% (25) as being in need of orthodontic treatment. However, 27% (138) perceived themselves to be in need of orthodontic treatment. SCAN ratings were associated with children’s perceptions of the impact of oral health on life quality, specifically EWB (P<0.01) and SWB (P<0.05). Children’s own perception of the need for orthodontic treatment was more strongly associated with their perceptions of the impact of oral health on life quality. It was associated with symptoms (P<0.05), functional limitations (P<0.01), EWB (P<0.001) and SWB (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Orthodontic treatment need is associated with the impact oral health has on the life quality of children.