Oral health-related quality of life of patients with class II and class III dentofacial deformity before and after orthognathic surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Dentofacial deformities affect patients' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and orthognathic surgery is commonly used to correct these skeletal deformities. Currently, few studies have compared patients with class II and class III dentofacial deformity using validated tools, with control groups and longer-term follow-up. This study evaluated OHRQoL in 94 patients with class II (n = 28) and class III (n = 66) dentofacial deformity before (baseline) and 1 (M1), 3 (M3), and 6 (M6) months after orthognathic surgery, using the Chinese version of the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ). A total of 118 college students without dentofacial deformity served as controls. Comparisons and longitudinal changes were analysed. Preoperatively (baseline), patients exhibited worse OQLQ scores than controls (P < 0.001). Significant improvements of OQLQ scores were observed in patients with class II and class III dentofacial deformity from baseline to M6 (P < 0.001). Patients with class II dentofacial deformity showed significantly worse OQLQ scores than those with class III dentofacial deformity in certain aspects at M6 (P < 0.05). This study provides novel evidence that while orthognathic surgery substantially improves OHRQoL, patients with class II dentofacial deformity may experience poorer OHRQoL at 6 months postoperatively compared to patients with class III dentofacial deformity.