Quality of Life and Temporomandibular Disorders in Patients With Skeletal Class III Malocclusion With Cleft Lip and Palate.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life (QOL), oral health-related QOL (OHRQOL), temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), and psychological factors in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and without CLP.

DESIGN

Case-control.

SETTING

Primary care, institutional practice.

PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-six patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion with CLP (n = 68) and without CLP (n = 68).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: QOL and OHRQOL were assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire, respectively. TMDs and psychological factors were assessed using the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD).

RESULTS

No differences in QOL were found between the groups (P > 0.05). Patients with CLP reported a better OHRQOL (P = 0.025) in the physical pain, physical disability, and psychological disability domains (P < 0.05). Patients with CLP presented with less myofascial pain (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.71] and other articular conditions (OR 0.24; 95% CI 0.06-0.90]. More patients with CLP reported no chronic pain (P = 0.012). The QOL of patients with CLP with no depression or with no nonspecific physical symptoms including pain (NSPSIP) was better than that of patients without CLP. The OHRQOL of patients with CLP without TMDs or no psychological factors was better than that of patients without CLP.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion who require orthognathic surgery with CLP have better OHRQOL and present with fewer TMDs than those patients without CLP.