Observational study demonstrates improved oral quality of life and female self-esteem after fixed orthodontic treatment, highlighting psychosocial benefits across extraction protocols.
Objective: To examine the associations of fixed orthodontic treatment with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and self-esteem (SE) in relation to sex and premolar extraction status. Methods: Adult patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment at a private orthodontic practice from 2010 to 2021 were included. Pre- and posttreatment OHRQoL and SE were evaluated using the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE), respectively. Outcomes were compared by sex and premolar extraction status. Conclusions: After orthodontic treatment, OHRQoL improved in both sexes and SE improved in female patients, although the clinical significance of these changes was uncertain. In the extraction group, OHRQoL and SE were initially lower than those in the non-extraction group but showed no significant intergroup differences after treatment.
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An et al. (2026) studied this question.
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