Changes in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life for Patients Undergoing Orthognathic Surgery - A Review

Objective: To identify current knowledge of changes in quality of life including Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) for patients undergoing orthognathic surgery based on validated questionnaires. Material and Methods: Two databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library), were searched and full-textarticles concerning patients with dentofacial deformities undergoing orthodontics and orthognathic surgery were included. Inclusion criteria: articles published in English in referee reviewed journals between January 2003 and December 2017, self-assessed quality of life using validated questionnaires. Exclusion criteria: Articles reporting quality of life of patients with syndromes such as cleft lip palateor severe illness, review articles. Results: Sixteen longitudinal or cross-sectional articles were included, all considered of moderate quality. Oral Health Impact Profile and Orthognathic Quality of Life were the most commonly used questionnaires. Included studies reported a lower OHRQoL for patients with dentofacial deformities compared to patients with normal dentofacial features. There was a tendency towardsmore positive OHRQoL for patients with dentofacial deformities after orthognathic surgery. This positive effect seems to be evident 6 months after surgery, with further improvements at completionof treatment. Changes in general health related quality of life, predominately measured by the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, were not coherently evident nor was sex differences. Conclusion: Patients with dentofacial deformities improved moderately after orthognathic surgery, while generic health related quality of life was unchanged