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Orthodontic treatment need, self‐esteem, and oral health‐related quality of life among 12‐yr‐old schoolchildren
Author(s) -
Herkrath Ana P. C. Q.,
Vettore Mario V.,
Queiroz Adriana C.,
Alves Paula L. N.,
Leite Sarah D. C.,
Pereira Juliana V.,
Rebelo Maria A. B.,
Herkrath Fernando J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/eos.12611
Subject(s) - malocclusion , medicine , self esteem , quality of life (healthcare) , dentistry , oral health , association (psychology) , cross sectional study , path analysis (statistics) , clinical psychology , psychology , statistics , nursing , mathematics , pathology , psychotherapist
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between orthodontic treatment need and oral health‐related quality of life ( OHRQ oL) among 12‐yr‐old children. The study also assessed whether self‐esteem modifies and/or moderates this relationship. Cross‐sectional data on 406 schoolchildren aged 12 yr were analyzed. Data on socio‐economic and demographic characteristics, dental pain, self‐esteem, and OHRQ oL were collected using validated questionnaires. Orthodontic treatment need was assessed, through dental examinations, using the dental aesthetic index ( DAI ). Multiple negative binomial regression and path analysis were used to estimate the association of orthodontic treatment need and self‐esteem with OHRQ oL. A modifying effect of self‐esteem on the relationship between DAI and OHRQ oL was observed. Self‐esteem did not mediate the abovementioned relationship. Children with lower scores of self‐esteem had worse OHRQ oL among those with lower orthodontic treatment need (a DAI score of < 31). However, self‐esteem did not influence the association between DAI and OHRQ oL in children with greater orthodontic treatment need (a DAI score of ≥ 31). Self‐esteem attenuated the impact of malocclusion on OHRQ oL in children with minor or definite malocclusion, but not among those with severe or very severe malocclusion. Self‐esteem appears to buffer the impact of malocclusion on OHRQ oL in children with minor orthodontic treatment need.