Impact of bone-anchored maxillary protraction on the quality of life of subjects with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of bone-anchored maxillary protraction (BAMP) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL) in subjects with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and moderate-to-severe maxillary deficiency. METHODS: A longitudinal observational study was conducted with a sample of 20 patients (13 males, 7 females) aged 10-14 years (mean age, 11.8 years) with Goslon 3, 4, and 5. To assess the patient's perception of their OHRQOL, the Quality of Life Questionnaire for Orthosurgical Patients was administered in 2 stages: after the installation of the protraction plates (T1) and 18 months after the protraction therapy started (T2). The questionnaire was composed of 4 domains, distributed over 22 questions: social aspects, facial esthetics, oral function, and awareness of facial deformity. RESULTS: The treatment protocol improved the OHRQOL in 75% of the patients who presented UCLP. The domain social aspects of the deformity were the only one that showed a significant difference from T1 to T2 and indicated an improvement in self-esteem. The girls had worse OHRQOL than boys at T1, which was statistically significant only for the domains of social aspects of deformity and awareness of deformity. After BAMP therapy, the effect size indicated a larger change in OHRQOL in girls than in boys. CONCLUSIONS: BAMP therapy positively impacted the OHRQOL and self-esteem of patients with UCLP during adolescence.

Impact of orthodontic treatment on self-esteem and quality of life of adult patients requiring oral rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether orthodontic treatment in adults requiring oral rehabilitation is effective for increasing patients' self-esteem and quality of life (QoL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 102 adult patients (77 women and 25 men) aged between 18 and 66 years (mean, 35.1 years) requiring oral rehabilitation and orthodontic treatment simultaneously. Rosenberg's Self-Esteem (RSE) Scale and a questionnaire about QoL based on the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were used to determine self-esteem and QoL scores retrospectively. Questionnaires were carried out in two stages, T1 (start of treatment) and T2 (6 months after). To compare score changes between T1 and T2, the data obtained from the RSE Scale were evaluated with paired t tests, and data from the quality-of-life questionnaire were assessed by applying descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The results showed a statistically significant increase in self-esteem (P < .001) and a great improvement on patients' QoL. CONCLUSIONS: Orthodontic treatment causes a significant increase in self-esteem and QoL, providing psychological benefits for adult patients in need of oral rehabilitation.