Investigation of the psychosocial impact of orthodontic treatment among young adults

Abstract A smile is one of the first features people notice in others and therefore plays an important role in appearance and social integration. Orthodontic treatment not only improves dental aesthetics but also has a significant psychosocial impact on patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the psychosocial aspects of dental aesthetics among individuals aged 18-30 years, to assess the influence of dental appearance on self-esteem, social relationships, and emotional well-being, and to evaluate the effect of orthodontic treatment on these factors. The study was conducted using a Google Forms questionnaire incorporating the Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ) supplemented with several additional questions. A total of 266 volunteers participated, of whom three were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Data were processed in Microsoft Excel and grouped according to gender, age group, educational level, and orthodontic treatment status. Additional subgroup analyses were performed according to gender, age group, and educational level within the orthodontic treatment categories. Statistical analysis was carried out using Social Science Statistics software and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Responses were classified according to a scoring system developed by the authors to determine whether participants had low, moderate, or high self-esteem. A significant difference was observed between age groups (p = 0.04), with participants aged 22-25 years demonstrating higher self-esteem than those in the other age groups. A significant difference was also found according to orthodontic treatment status (p = 0.001). Self-esteem was highest among individuals who had completed orthodontic treatment, followed by those who had never undergone treatment, and lowest among those currently receiving treatment. Significant differences were also found among participants with secondary school education (p = 0.02), in the 18-21-year age group (p = 0.03), among males (p = 0.01), and among females (p = 0.04). In each case, self-esteem was highest among those who had completed orthodontic treatment and lowest among those currently undergoing treatment. Similar trends were observed in the remaining groups. Most respondents had high self-esteem. Overall, the results indicate that individuals who have undergone orthodontic treatment have better self-esteem. These findings highlight the importance of orthodontic treatment in improving patients' psychosocial well-being.