Objective:

The aims of this study were (1) to determine orthodontic treatment need, self-esteem, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of primary schoolchildren and (2) to investigate possible influences of orthodontic treatment need on self-esteem and OHRQoL.

Methods:

The subjects of this cross-sectional study were 219 children aged 13–14 years attending public schools in Bornova, Izmir, Turkey. None of the children were undergoing active orthodontic treatment or had previously received orthodontic treatment. Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need Dental Health Component (IOTN-DHC) was used to determine normative orthodontic treatment need, and scores of 4 and 5 were defined as treatment need. IOTN Aesthetic Component (IOTN-AC) was used for the determination of child perception as well as the orthodontist perception of treatment need, and scores of 8–10 were defined as treatment need. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale was applied for self-esteem level determination. OHRQoL was evaluated using Child-Oral Impact on Daily Performance (C-OIDP) questionnaire. Correlations of the obtained data were tested using Spearman rho, and groups presenting correlations were further tested using Kruskal-Wallis and chi-square test. Interoperator and intraoperator reliability of the applied tests was evaluated using weighted kappa scores.

Results:

Prevalence of dental normative orthodontic treatment need was 37%, with 7.3% of the children presenting no malocclusion. Of the whole population, 5.5% of the children described themselves as having definite treatment need according to IOTN-AC scores. OHRQoL was positively influenced when self-esteem was higher (p=0.01). Presence of normative orthodontic treatment need according to IOTN-DHC did not have an influence on OHRQoL (p=0.745).

Conclusion:

Orthodontic treatment need derived by the orthodontist might not necessarily influence OHRQoL and self-esteem of primary schoolchildren. Assessment of OHRQoL as an adjunct to conventional diagnostic tools and normative measures may be feasible for the interpretation of treatment need and priority.

Keywords: Child-Oral Impact on Daily Performance, Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need, Oral health-related quality of life, Self-esteem