Most adults will clearly remember their childhood. Thankfully for most of us, happy memories will flow into our minds. However, even the most self-assured and confident adult is still likely to have struggled at some point during their teenage years with self-doubt and possibly self-esteem issues.

This time involves physical, psychological and social maturation, in addition to developing an identity and independence. This stage of life can be exciting, confusing and complex and often presents unique challenges for both the individual and the family unit. Many studies have investigated the impact which orthodontic treatment can have on a patient’s overall well-being and quality of life. This area is fascinating and one an Orthodontist is privileged to be involved with every day in practice.

Which Factors Contribute to an Individual’s Well-Being?

In addition to general health factors, an individual’s overall “well-being” consists of a combination of psychological and social well-being factors. Psychological well-being reflects how content we are with ourselves, however, social well-being is affected by how we interact with other people. Personality features, along with numerous other factors, can influence an individual’s psychological well-being, which includes their self-esteem and overall satisfaction with life. Studies have shown that self-esteem is least stable during early adolescence, however, that stability progressively increases into early adulthood.

Social Well-Being and Orthodontics

Several studies have found that young people with orthodontic problems (e.g. significantly crooked and/or protrusive teeth) are dissatisfied with and have a sense of shame about the appearance of their teeth. Unfortunately, this perceived feeling of being unattractive or different may be intensified by supposed societal ‘norms’, peer group pressure and images in the media.

Many studies have sadly reported teasing of young people due to the appearance of their teeth and examples have been found in many different societies and cultures. Fortunately, orthodontic treatment has been shown to alleviate this problem.

Quality of Life and Orthodontics The World Health Organisation

(WHO) defines quality of life as “an individual’s perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns”. Studies have demonstrated that an individual’s quality of life can be affected by their oral and dental conditions (i.e. oral health-related quality of life).

Recent research on adolescents aged between 11–15 years, have found that orthodontic problems appear to have a negative impact on the individual’s quality of life. Other studies have found that individuals who have undergone orthodontic treatment had a better oral health-related quality of life than individuals who have not undergone orthodontic treatment. There is no doubt that quality of life is multifactorial in nature, therefore more focused research is continuing.

How an Orthodontist Can Help

Correction of orthodontic problems can lead to significant dental health improvements for individual patients. Although alignment of crooked teeth is not expected to radically change an individual’s psychological well-being, orthodontic treatment may allow individuals to cope more effectively in social situations, by removing anxiety relating to the appearance of their teeth.

As an Orthodontist, I feel greatly privileged to be part of the teenage years of my patients. It is truly rewarding to see my patients become wonderful and well-rounded young adults. I am very grateful for the confident and happy smiles I see each and every day.

References available upon request.

Dr Desmond Ong, Orthodontist
Townsville Orthodontic Specialists