Malocclusions and their associations with oral health-related quality of life in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966

• Main Author: Närhi, A. L. (Anne Linnea)
• Other Authors: Silvola, A. (Anna-Sofia), Pirttiniemi, P. (Pertti)
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Oulun yliopisto 2023
• Subjects: OHRQoL; adult population; cohort study; dental aesthetics; malocclusion; malocclusion severity; malocclusion traits; orthodontics; satisfaction; aikuisväestö; hampaiston estetiikka; kohorttitutkimus; oikomishoito; purentavirhe; purentavirheen vaikeusaste; suunterveyteen liittyvä elämänlaatu; tyytyväisyys; Northern Finland
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9789526239316

Abstract Malocclusions have been found to impact oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), consisting of individuals’ physical, psychological, and social well-being and functioning. The associations of malocclusion and OHRQoL have been established among orthodontic patients. Most of the population-based studies have been conducted in children and adolescents, but there is a lack of knowledge on these associations in an adult population. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of malocclusion and OHRQoL in a Finnish adult population. The study population (n = 1,964) is part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966), and the data has been collected as part of the 46-year-old follow-up study. Overjet, overbite, crossbite and scissor bite were registered in clinical examination, and malocclusion severity and aesthetic impairments were evaluated from digital 3D dental models with the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment need (IOTN) and Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) index. OHRQoL was measured using standardized questionnaires, including the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), and separate questions concerning satisfaction with occlusal function and dental aesthetics. Malocclusions were found to have a negative impact on OHRQoL. Different malocclusion traits, malocclusion severity and aesthetic impairments were associated with different aspects of individuals’ well-being, and significant differences between genders were noticed. One third of the study population had normatively assessed great/very great orthodontic treatment need. The most severe malocclusions and aesthetic impairments were associated with lower OHRQoL. However, there was major individual variation in the perceived impacts, and most of the study population reported no or little OHRQoL impacts regardless of their malocclusion. In conclusion, malocclusion was associated with OHRQoL in adults at population level. The associations depend on the measures ...