Impact of Angle malocclusions on oral health related quality of life in adolescents

Objectives: To investigate the impact of Angle Class I, Class II, and Class III malocclusions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in children aged 11 to 14 years. Methods: The Turkish version of the Child Perception Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ(11-14)) was administered to 83 individuals with a Class I malocclusion, 111 individuals with a Class II Division 1 malocclusion, and 63 individuals with a Class III malocclusion. The CPQ(11-14) was used to evaluate the OHRQOL of children aged between 11 and 14 years. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions which evaluated oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in relation to the individual's CPQ(11-14) total scores and subscale scores for oral symptoms, functional limitations, and emotional well-being (p > 0.05), except for the social wellbeing subscale. Patients with a Class III malocclusion had significantly higher social well-being scores compared to individuals with a Class I malocclusion. Conclusions: A Class III malocclusion may negatively impact on the social well-being of adolescents. Early diagnosis of a Class III malocclusion and the application of early orthopaedic treatment may prevent the negative impact on a child's social well-being.