Does severity of dentofacial deformity impact oral health-related quality of life in class III cleft lip and palate patients?

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to correlate the severity of dentofacial deformity and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 42 class III patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). The main outcome measures were clinical evaluations of overjet and overbite. OHRQoL was assessed with the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire (OHIP-14). Angular (facial angle, SNA, SNB, ANB) and linear (N-PerpA, N-PerpPog and Wits appraisal) measurements were made using digital lateral teleradiography. No statistical difference was found between clinical variables and OHIP-14 scores (total score and domains, p > 0.05). A moderate positive correlation was found between the SNA angle and the handicap domain (r_s = 0.428; p = 0.005), between the ANB angle and the handicap domain (r_s = 0.319; p = 0.040) and psychological disability (r_s = 0.331; p = 0.032); between N-PerpA and the social disability domain (r_s = 0.345, p = 0.025); and between Wits appraisal and total OHIP-14 score (r_s = 0.331; p = 0.032) and psychological disability (r_s = 0.348; p = 0.024). Some angular and linear measurements of class III patients with CLP correlated with the total OHIP-14 score and the handicap, psychological disability, and social disability domains.