TITLE:
Effect of Malocclusion on Quality of Life among Persons Aged 7 - 25 Years: A Cross-Sectional Study
AUTHORS:
Ama Agyeibea Amuasi, Alexander Oti Acheampong, Edward Anarfi, Efua Sekyiwa Sagoe, Rosemary Darkoa Poku, Joseph Abu-Sakyi
KEYWORDS:
Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL), Malocclusion
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.8 No.8,
August
10,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: The theory of Oral Health Related Quality Of Life (OHRQOL) has manifold qualities. It endeavors to address social and/or emotional concerns as well as any symptoms or functional problems related to the teeth and jaws from the patients view point. The difficulty of utilizing any one standard evaluation tool to determine how the patient feels about problems with malocclusions or arising from them, led to the development of this construct/theory. Aim: To evaluate the impact of malocclusion on the socio-functional and psychological wellbeing of persons 7 - 25 years old. Method: 100 patients within the ages of 7 - 25 years who visited the Orthodontics Unit of the Oral Health Directorate of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi, were conveniently sampled and surveyed. Participants were given questionnaires to assess the effects of malocclusion on their Oral Health Related Quality of Life and also to determine if their educational status had any influence on the impact of malocclusion on their oral health related quality of life. Results: The modal age of the participants was 10 - 15 years with 40% as it frequency followed by 7 - 9 years while the age with least frequency was 16 - 25 years which stood at 22.0%. 28 respondents reported negative effects on their functional domain. 71 of the participants reported negative effects on psychological well-being and 49 of them reported negative effects on social well-being. Conclusion: Malocclusion has an overall negative impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life and its related purviews. It was observed to be highest for the psychological discomfort domain and the lowest in the functional well-being domain.