The Relationships between Orthodontic Treatment, Oral Health-Related Quality of Life, and Happiness of among Some High School Students

Lee, Hyun Ok; Park, Ji Young

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to provide basic data on counseling, education, and treatment related to orthodontic practices through an understanding of the relationships between orthodontic treatment, oral health-related quality of life, and happiness of high school students. The subjects in this study were 500 students in Grades 1~3 of a high school in Jeollabuk-do. We conducted a survey targeting this group; the results revealed the following: in the social support item, peer support showed significant differences in the matter of orthodontic treatment (p < 0.05). In oral health-related quality of life, the students without orthodontic treatment showed 14.09 scores that were higher than the students with treatment (p < 0.05). Regarding happiness, the students with orthodontic treatment showed higher scores which were significantly different from the those of the non-orthodontic treatment group (p < 0.05). Additionally, upon examining the correlations between self-esteem, social support, oral health-related quality of life, and happiness, oral health-related quality of life, peer support, and happiness showed the negative (âˆ’) correlations while the rest of the variables showed the positive correlations (p < 0.05). The factors having effects on oral health-related quality of life included the stress, matter of orthodontic treatment, and teachers support (p < 0.05). The factors having effects on happiness included self-esteem, peer support, and family support (p < 0.05). Based on the above results, even though dental orthodontic treatment had negative effects on oral health-related quality of life, it had positive effects on happiness. Consequently, it would seem necessary to seek active methods to increase oral health-related quality of life. This improvement could be achieved by minimizing inconveniences, such as mastication, in the process of dental orthodontic treatment, and developing programs that could enhance happiness.