Association between subjective orthodontic treatment need, oral health-related quality of life, and occlusal deviations in a cohort of 17-year-old adolescents in Finland.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between self-perceived orthodontic treatment need, satisfaction with dental esthetics and occlusion, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), occlusal deviations, and orthodontic treatment history of 17-year-olds.

Material and methods: Clinical examination and standardized questionnaire were completed by 108 adolescents from two municipal clinics. OHRQoL was measured with the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and malocclusion severity using the Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) Index. Associations between the variables were analyzed with Spearman's rank correlation and linear regression.

Results: Of the participants, 55% had either undergone orthodontic treatment or were in treatment. The level of self-perceived treatment need was low and satisfaction with esthetics and functionality of occlusion high. Painful aching in the mouth was the most reported OHIP item, followed by self-consciousness. Subjective treatment need and PAR correlated positively (rs(95) = 0.389, p < 0.001), whereas the OHIP score and PAR score showed no association. Subjective treatment need, satisfaction, or treatment history did not predict the OHIP score.

Conclusions: Majority of the adolescents were satisfied with their dental esthetics and occlusal function irrespective of past orthodontic treatment history. OHRQoL was poorer in adolescents with subjective orthodontic treatment need. Those with the greatest subjective treatment need had the most severe malocclusion.