Impact of treatment with orthodontic aligners on the oral health-related quality of life

• Main Authors: Gabriela Luiza Nunes Souza (Author), Esdras de Campos França (Author), Marcelo de Araújo Lombardi (Author), Giselle Cabral da Costa (Author), Najara Barbosa da Rocha (Author), Lucas Guimarães Abreu (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: BMC, 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.1186/s12903-024-04183-z; 1472-6831
• Keywords: Quality of life; Orthodontics; Epidemiology; Aligners; Dentistry; RK1-715
• Source: BMC Oral Health, Vol 24, Iss 1, Pp 1-7 (2024)

Abstract Background There is an increasing interest in information on the effects of orthodontic aligners on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of people. Aim To compare the impact of orthodontic aligners versus conventional fixed appliances on OHRQoL, using a validated tool and controlling for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method Sixty-one individuals participated in this study. Group 1 (G1) consisted of 33 individuals under treatment with orthodontic aligners and Group 2 (G2) comprised 28 individuals under treatment with conventional fixed appliances. OHRQoL was evaluated with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) in which 14 items are distributed across seven dimensions: functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, and handicap. The higher the score, the more negative is the perception of the individual regarding his/her OHRQoL. Descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney test, and Poisson regression were performed. Effect Size (ES) and Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID) were also determined. Results Participants' mean age was 30.69 years. Individuals in G1 had a significantly lower score for physical pain and the total score of OHIP-14 compared to individuals in G2 (p < 0.05). The ES was large (ES = 0.74) for physical pain and moderate (ES = 0.46) for the total score. The ES was moderate for physical disability (ES = 0.50). The difference between groups for physical pain (1.30) and for physical disability (0.90) was greater than the MCID (0.87 and 0.88, respectively). Poisson regression showed that G2 individuals showed a score for physical pain 1.39 times higher than those of G1 in the adjusted model (OR = 1.39, [1.03-1.89], p = 0.031). Conclusion Those under treatment with orthodontic aligners have a more positive perception of OHRQoL compared to those wearing fixed appliances.