COMPARISON OF THE IMPACT OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT AND ORTHOGNATHIC SURGERY ON ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE INIRANIAN FEMALE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a critical outcome in treating dentofacial discrepancies. This prospective cohort study aimed to compare OHRQoL improvements three months after completion of fixed orthodontic treatment versus orthognathic surgery among Iranian female patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 101 female patients were included: 71 adolescents (aged 14–17 years) undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment and 30 young adults (aged 19–35 years) undergoing combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgery for skeletal malocclusion. OHRQoL was assessed at baseline and three months post-treatment using the Persian versions of the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ) for both groups and the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) for the surgical group. Within- and between-group changes were analyzed using paired and independent t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: Both treatments significantly improved overall OHRQoL. The orthodontic group showed significant reductions in all four CPQ domains and total score (p < 0.001). The surgical group exhibited significant improvements in emotional well-being, social well-being, and total CPQ score (p < 0.001), but not in oral symptoms (p = 0.213) or functional limitations (p = 0.284). OQLQ scores in the surgical group improved across all domains (p < 0.01). Conclusion: At three months post-treatment, fixed orthodontic treatment provides broad, uniform OHRQoL improvement, particularly in functional domains, whereas orthognathic surgery yields superior psychosocial benefits, especially in social well-being and facial aesthetics, despite slower early functional recovery.