Orthodontic Treatment Impact on Life Experience of Adolescents With Fixed Orthodontic Appliances

This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of orthodontic treatment on the daily life experience of adolescents wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. We aimed to assess the impact of different fixed orthodontic appliances in a sample of 364 patients either having labial fixed orthodontic appliances only or combined with palatal anchorage appliances, combined with mini-screws, combined with both palatal anchorage appliances and mini-screws or having fixed retainers. The outcomes were the impact on the patient's social and emotional well-being status and the impact on the patient's oral health, pain, and discomfort. a questionnaire was distributed and the patient was asked to fill it in. The questionnaire is composed of 22 questions with a 3-point scale.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and female patients
• Patients wearing fixed orthodontic appliances at any stage of treatment (labial fixed appliance only - labial fixed appliance combined with any palatal or lingual appliance - labial fixed appliance combined with mini-screws) or fixed retainers either in the upper arch only, lower arch only, or in both arches.
• Age: 13-18 years old

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who refused to participate in the study.
• Patients with cleft lip or palate.
• Illiterate patients.
• Patients who had a complicated medical history.
• Patients with severe skeletal discrepancy undergoing combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical treatment.