IntroductionDentofacial disorders may potentially significantly affect the quality of life. Objectives of this study were to validate translated and culturally adapted Orthognatic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) on a cohort of Serbian patients with malocclusions.MethodsThe questionnaire was validated in 111 consecutive patients with malocclusions, seen between December 2014 and February 2015 at the Clinic of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. Clinical validity was assessed comparing the mean scores for the four subscales of the OQLQ and mean PAR pre-treatment score. In order to assess whether the allocation of items in the subscales corresponds to their distribution in the original questionnaire, an exploratory factor analysis (principal component analysis with varimax rotation) was conducted.ResultsThe results of the internal consistency analysis demonstrated good relationships between the items; Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the four subscales were highly significant (p<0.001) (0.88-0.91). All items were significantly correlated between baseline and the retest (6 weeks after). The correlations between the PAR and all four domains of the OQLQ were all significant (p<0.01). The loading weights obtained in the exploratory factor analysis showed that this model revealed four factors with eigenvalue greater than 1, explaining the 64.0% of the cumulative variance. The majority of the items (86.4%) in the Serbian version of the OQLQ presented the highest loading weight in the subscales assigned by the OQLQ developer.ConclusionsThe psychometric properties of the OQLQ (Serbian version) have exceptional internal consistency and reproducibility as an instrument for evaluation of dental malocclusions. Additionally, this questionnaire may be useful as a supplementary outcome measure in persons with malocclusions.

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to assess pre-treatment quality of life and the relevant clinical variables in adult patients with malocclusion in order to improve orthodontic treatment strategies.MethodsThe study was conducted in 240 consecutive adult patients with malocclusions divided into two groups: patients for whom an orthodontic treatment plan was considered, and patients for whom an orthognathic treatment plan was selected. Patients were examined between December 2015 and February 2017, at the School of Dental Medicine, University of Belgrade. Malocclusion severity was recorded using the Peer Assessment Rating index pre-treatment score. Skeletal malocclusion parameters were measured using lateral cephalometric radiographs. Quality of life was assessed by means of a generic questionnaire (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36)), and the disease-specific Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ).ResultsThere were significant differences in the mean values of the OQLQ domain scores between orthodontic and orthognathic patients. Patients for whom orthodontic treatment was planned had statistically significantly lower scores in comparison to those for whom orthognathic treatment was planned. This was the case in all OQLQ domains except for “Awareness of facial deformity”. Statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) were presented between OQLQ scores and following demographic and clinical variables: gender, age, malocclusion severity, maxillary and mandibular sagittal, maxillary vertical, and lower incisor positions, intermaxillary angle, and the Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory levels. The independent predictors for the planning of orthodontic and orthognathic treatment in patients with malocclusion were two OQLQ domains, “Facial aesthetics” and “Awareness of facial deformity”, as well as total OQLQ score, after adjustment for demographic characteristics, skeletal parameters, anxiety and depression.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that patients for whom orthodontic treatment was planned demonstrated better quality of life according to the OQLQ scores in comparison to those for whom orthognathic therapy was planned.