Petrušytė Greta1, Švedienė Olga1, Berlin Vilija1, 2
1Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Odontology, Vilnius, Lithuania
2Vilnius University hospital Zalgiris Clinic, Vilnius, Lithuania
Abstract
Background and aim. Dental and occlusal anomalies are quite common pathology in today’s society. The treatment of these disorders usually is accomplished with braces. Treatment consists of three different stages. Braces, due to the awkward construction and constant presence in the oral cavity, can affect the physical, social and psychological condition of the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of patients treated with braces during different stages of orthodontic treatment.
Methodology. 321 individuals met the selection criteria. Subjects were divided into male and female groups. Respondents answered the questions of the anonymous questionnaire, which assessed the patient’s quality of life in different stages of the orthodontic treatment with braces.
Results. The vast majority (83 %) of patients experienced toothache during different treatment stages, which affected their quality of life. Throughout periods of orthodontic treatment, patients experienced psychological or physical discomfort, particularly when chewing food and saying certain words. In most cases, a statistically significant association was found between traits assessing quality of life at different treatment stages and the patient’s gender: women experienced greater difficulties and limitations than men.
Conclusions. Patients’ quality of life varied during treatment stages, with the first period of orthodontic treatment generally having a poorer quality of life than the completion phase. It is recommended to provide information for patients about expected discomforts during various stages of orthodontic treatment.
Keywords: braces, quality of life, orthodontic treatment