The Effect of Malocclusion on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Adolescents in the Rural Areas of Hamirpur Block, Himachal Pradesh, India
Abhimanyu Singh Chauhan
Dr. Radhakrishnan Govt. Medical College, Hamirpur (H.P), India.
Sharmila Debarmma
Dr. Radhakrishnan Govt. Medical College, Hamirpur (H.P), India.
Anupriya Sharma
*
Dr. Radhakrishnan Govt. Medical College, Hamirpur (H.P), India.
Kanchan Chauhan
Dr. Radhakrishnan Govt. Medical College, Hamirpur (H.P), India.
Manish Goyal
Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Govt Medical College, Nahan, Sirmour (HP), India.
Ashish Sharma
AIIMS, Bilapur (H.P), India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of malocclusion on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire for OHRQoL among school-going children in the Hamirpur Block of Himachal Pradesh, India.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in government senior secondary schools of Hamirpur Block, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 294 students aged 12–18 participated in this study. The assessment tools used to determine the need for orthodontic treatment included the OHIP-14 questionnaire for OHRQoL and the dental health component (DHC) of the IOTN.
Results: Of the 294 samples, the highest proportion (approximately 29%) exhibited borderline treatment needs, whereas the lowest proportion (approximately 6%) had high treatment needs. Overall, treatment needs were identified in approximately 165 individuals, which accounted for approximately 56% of the total samples. Self-consciousness was the most prevalent factor, observed in 81% of the participants. The mean overall score (± SD) was 4.29 ± 5.25. Physical disability exerted the least impact (0.19 ± 0.42), whereas psychological discomfort had the most significant effect (1.51 ± 1.67). A high need for orthodontic treatment significantly impacted the participants’ overall OHRQoL score across all domains of OHIP-14. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses of OHIP-14 regarding IOTN–DHC, sex and age group revealed a significant association between normative orthodontic treatment needs and overall OHIP-14 scores.
In either analysis, boys had a statistically nonsignificant lower impact score than girls. With increasing age, the impact score for quality of life declined significantly for the 15–16 age group in multivariate analysis.
Conclusion: Malocclusion negatively affects OHRQoL and its various domains. Individuals with Grade 5 malocclusion (indicating a high treatment need) experience a considerable negative impact on their overall OHRQoL score across all domains of OHIP-14.
Keywords: Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL), Malocclusion, Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), treatment need, dental aesthetics