Correlation between dental aesthetic index and orthodontics-related quality of life among students in south-east of Iran

Orthodontic treatment aims mainly to improve orodental healthcare and function, but its aesthetic and psychological effects are increasing as well. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) and orthodontics-related quality of life (QOL) among first course high school students in Kerman, Iran.

The present cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 400 first course high school students selected through two-stage cluster sampling method during 2017 to 2018. Data were collected using 22-item orthodontics-related QOL and DAI questionnaires, and then analyzed by SPSS software using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and linear regression tests. P-value was considered at significance level of 0.05.

According to DAI score, 15.7% of students needed mandatory orthodontic treatment and 39.4% had no orthodontic or minor treatment. Mean orthodontics-related QOL score was 15.60 ± 11.16 out of 88. No significant correlation was found between total score of questionnaire, items of DAI, DAI score, and different domains of questionnaire with DAI. Moreover, there was no significant difference between gender, DAI, and the mean score of orthodontics-related QOL questionnaire.

Based on the results of the present study, the orthodontics-related QOL was high in first course high school students. Additionally, no statistical correlation was reported between DAI and orthodontics-related QOL and corresponding domains.