Quality of Life and Oral Health among the Patients with Fixed Orthodontic Appliances Attending a Tertiary Dental Center in Bangladeshh

Abstract

Background: Fixed orthodontic appliances are commonly used for malocclusion correction among adolescents, and their impact on oral-health-related quality of life is incompletely understood. Temporal  changes in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) during treatment need to be understood for undertaking appropriate patient counseling and treatment planning. This study aims to evaluate how fixed orthodontic appliances affect adolescents’ oral health-related quality of life over the course of treatment. 
Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Military Dental Centre, Dhaka, between January and December 2023. A total of 60 orthodontic patients, aged 12-18 years, with mild-to-moderate malocclusion were enrolled in this study.  Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaires have been used to assess OHRQoL at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Clinical parameters were recorded monthly, along with the Plaque Index according to Silness & Löe and the gingival bleeding percentage. Statistical analyses were performed in Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. 
Results: The mean and standard deviation (SD) OHIP-14 score increased substantially from baseline (8.2 ± 3.1) to 3 months (28.4 ± 5.6), showing an early decline in oral-health-related quality of life. Scores improved gradually at 6 months (18.9 ± 4.3) and 12 months (12.1 ± 3.8), but remained higher than baseline. The Plaque Index and gingival bleeding rose during therapy, peaking at 6 months (1.6 ± 0.4 and 38%, respectively), with partial recovery by 12 months. Higher plaque levels, longer treatment time, and lower patient compliance were all related to poorer 12-month OHRQoL results. 
Conclusion: Fixed orthodontic appliances significantly impair OHRQoL at the outset but improve over 12 months. Oral hygiene maintenance and patient compliance are the critical determinants of treatment outcomes and quality of life.

Bangladesh Armed Forces Med J Vol 59 No (1) June 2026, pp 37-45