The aim of this study was to evaluate the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and anxiety levels of adult patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with fixed multibracket appliances.
Materials and methods: The study was carried out at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca in 2021. It included 120 adult patients between 19 and 45 years of age undergoing orthodontic treatment with conventional metal brackets. The data collection instruments chosen were the state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) to assess anxiety levels and the OHIP-14 questionnaire to measure the OHRQoL. Anxiety levels and OHRQoL were analyzed one month after starting treatment.
Results: The mean age was 31.7 years ± 6.5 years; 68 patients were women (56.7%) and 52 were men (43.3%). Psychological disability was the dimension of the OHIP-14 questionnaire that was found to have the greatest impact (3.20 ± 1.08) on patients, as compared to the dimension of disability, which had the lowest impact on the oral-health quality of life (0.37 ± 0.56). The mean total score of the OHIP-14 questionnaire was 11.93 (±2.19). There was no statistically significant influence from either sex or age on the anxiety and oral-health quality of life of the participants; however, there was a significant relationship between the dimensions of physical disability and anxiety traits.
Conclusions: The physical disability dimension of the OHIP-14 questionnaire increased the anxiety level of adult patients treated with conventional brackets. The impact of orthodontic treatment on adult patients may negatively influence their levels of anxiety.
Keywords: OHIP-14; STAI; anxiety; oral-health-related quality of life; orthodontics; self-esteem.