International Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Abstract
Background: Malocclusion affects not only oral function and appearance, but it has also economic, social, and psychological effects. Improvement of oral health and enhancement of psychosocial well-being are perceived benefits of orthodontic treatment.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between Kurdish orthodontic patients’ severity of malocclusion and their social and psychological impact.

Materials and Methods: The sample consists of 100 patients, 45 males and 55 females, aged 13–22 years. A translated pre-tested questionnaire [psychosocial impact of dental aesthetics questionnaire PIDAQ] was used to assess the subjects’ social and psychological impact by their occlusal irregularities. The actual severity of malocclusion was determined, using the dental aesthetic index (DAI) on 100 stone study models.

Statistical analysis: Statistical analysis was carried out, using chi-square test for assessing the associations, and person correlation coefficient was used for assessing correlations. Analysis of co-variance (ANCOVA) and multiple regression tests were also carried out to complete the statistical analysis.

Results: The results of the multiple regression analysis showed that not only DAI score were significantly associated with higher score of PIADQ scores, but other factors, like gender was a significant variable in predicting the psychosocial impact of dental esthetics. However, age was not significantly associated with PIADQ scores. The value of R² is equal to 0 .226. Accordingly, there is a significant weak positive correlation between DAI score and PIADQ scale of the study sample at p<0.005.

Conclusion: Patients who seek orthodontic treatment are concerned with improving their appearance and social acceptance, often more than they concern with improving their oral function or health. Overall, scores on the PIDAQ scale were higher with a greater DAI score. Results confirm the view that adolescents attribute high importance to an attractive dental appearance. Finally, gender has a significant variable in predicting the psychosocial impact of dental esthetics.