Impacto do tratamento ortodôntico na qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of orthodontic treatment on the quality of life of adolescents. After approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (0421.0.203.000-1), a prospective study was carried out in which adolescents of 11 and 12 years of age both genders, who began orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance at the School of Dentistry of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, answered the short form of the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14). Inclusion criteria were individuals with a perceived need for orthodontic treatment and about to undergo orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance, while exclusion criteria were individuals with cognitive disorders, craniofacial anomalies, untreated dental caries and poor gingival health. The data presented in this study are related to the impact of orthodontic treatment on the quality of life of 68 individuals during the first month of treatment. Each individual answered the (CPQ11-14) before the orthodontic therapy beginning and 1 month after the placement of the fixed appliance. Out of the 68 participants, 35 were females (51.5%) and 33 were males (48.5%). The mean age was 11.4 years (standard deviation = 0.74). There were no significant changes in oral symptoms, functional limitations and social well-being scores as well as in the overall score (P > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant change in the emotional well-being domain (P = 0.001). It was concluded that there was an evident improvement in individual´s emotional well-being during the first month of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliance.