From malocclusion to better living: Short-term quality of life changes in skeletal class II and III patients after combined surgical-orthodontic treatment

Background : Skeletal Class II and III malocclusion can cause significant functional, aesthetic, and psychological concerns. Combined surgical-orthodontic treatment is often necessary, and understanding its psychosocial effects is vital for evaluating treatment outcomes. Aims and Objectives : To evaluate short-term psychosocial changes in adults with Class II and III malocclusion undergoing combined surgical-orthodontic treatment using the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ). Materials and Methods : A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Orthodontics, XX Dental College, on 24 adults (12 Class II, 12 Class III). Assessments were done at one month pre-surgery (T0), one month post-surgery (T1), and three months post-surgery (T2) using PIDAQ. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, Independent t-test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA. Results : At baseline (T0), Group 2 (Class III) patients had significantly higher PIDAQ scores (76.83 ± 5.94) compared to Group 1 (Class II) (65.92 ± 8.28). Both groups improved post-surgery, with greater reduction in Class III. At T1, scores were 42.58 ± 3.20 (Class II) and 38.67 ± 3.77 (Class III). At T2, they declined further to 31.33 ± 2.46 and 22.33 ± 2.27, respectively, with differences remaining significant. Overall, Class III patients showed greater improvements across all domains, with a total reduction of 70.9% compared to 52.5% in Class II. Conclusion : Combined surgical-orthodontic treatment significantly enhances psychosocial well-being in Class II and III malocclusion. Class III patients demonstrated more pronounced improvements, reflecting greater gains in quality of life.