Malocclusion: esthetic impact and quality of life among Brazilian schoolchildren

Abstract

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to assess the esthetic impact of malocclusion on the daily life of Brazilian schoolchildren and to test the association between esthetic impact due to malocclusion and biopsychosocial variables.

Methods: The sample comprised 333 randomly selected subjects aged 10 to 14 years. The oral impact on daily performance (OIDP) instrument was used to assess the esthetic impact, and the dental aesthetic index (DAI) was used for clinical assessment. The subjects were further evaluated as to their self-esteem (global self-evaluation) and self-perception of oral esthetics (oral aesthetic subjective impact scale). Other variables were assessed through questionnaires. Multiple logistic regression was used in the data analysis.

Results: Twenty-seven percent of the children reported an esthetic impact on their daily lives due to malocclusion. The following variables were independent risk factors for an esthetic impact: female sex, maxillary anterior crowding of 2 mm or more, normative need for treatment considered elective and highly desirable, negative self-perception of oral esthetics, low self-esteem, and intermediate economic level.

Conclusions: The esthetic impact of malocclusion significantly affects the quality of life of schoolchildren in Belo Horizonte.