Cross-bite and oral health related quality of life in young people
Available online 25 December 2013
Abstract
Objectives
This
study sought to assess the impact of posterior cross-bite on OHRQoL in
young people aged 15–25 and to determine whether the impact on higher
domains of Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (physical disability,
psychological disability, social disability and handicap) is a direct
function of the cross-bite or mediated through the lower domains of
OHIP-14 (functional limitation, pain and discomfort).
Methods
One
hundred and forty-five young adults [72 cross-bite cases and 73
controls] aged 15–25 years, attending orthodontic clinics at the Faculty
of Dentistry, Universiti Teknologi MARA participated in this study.
Participants completed the OHIP-14 and had a clinical examination for
cross-bite. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, t-test and bivariate and multivariate regression modelling.
Results
There
was no significant difference between the case and control groups in
gender, age and education level. The mean scores (±SD) for OHIP-14 total
and all domains were significantly higher in cross-bite patients as
compared to controls. The bivariate and multivariate regression analyses
showed functional limitation was significantly associated with all the
higher domains in all four models, whereas pain was only significantly
associated with the psychological domain and discomfort was only
significantly associated with the physical disability domain.
Conclusion
The
possession of a posterior cross bite has a significant association with
OHRQoL especially on the functional limitation and psychological
disability domains, among 15–25 years old young people. The relationship
of cross-bite and lower domains of OHIP-14 with higher domains of
OHIP-14 was in agreement with the relationships proposed by Locker's
conceptual model of oral health.
Clinical significance
Patients
with a cross bite were more limited in their oral functions and
experienced greater psychological discomfort than did controls. It is
possible that part of patients’ rationale for seeking treatment would be
to alleviate such impacts on their oral health related quality of life.
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