How do your teeth make you feel?

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  A qualitative study to investigate the effects of malocclusion

• IRAS ID

  128743

• Contact name

  Susan Cunningham

• Contact email

  s.cunningham@ucl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  UCLH Foundation Trust

• Research summary

  This study is investigating the psychosocial effects of malocclusion (poor alignment of teeth and/or problems with the bite) and orthodontic treatment (braces) in adolescents. There is research looking at the psycho-social aspects of malocclusion and orthodontic treatment but the research has tended to focus on the psychological elements of “psycho-social“ rather than the social elements. There is an increasing body of opinion in orthodontics that treatment probably affects the latter (social) elements more than the former.
  
  The results will provide important information at a time when orthodontic treatment is increasingly under threat with the NHS. Treatment is often perceived to be “cosmetic“ and the potential psycho-social effects which patients may experience for the rest of their lives are not considered fully. It is important that we are able to provide evidence of all potential benefits. This longitudinal study will help to establish whether orthodontic intervention has significant effects in adolescents.

  This questionnaire based study will be conducted in a single hospital department with a large throughput of patients (Eastman Dental Hospital) and will investigate a specific cohort of patients: those undergoing treatment for Class II Division 1 malocclusions (prominent upper front teeth) with a functional-type brace (a type of removable brace used with this group of patients). We have chosen to restrict the study to this particular group of patients as treatment with a functional brace takes in the region of 9-12 months so it is realistic to undertake a longitudinal study and it is also hoped that any concomitant developmental psychological changes will be relatively small in patients studied for 9-12 months. Participants will complete a questionnaire at two timepoints: the start and end of functional-brace treatment. Results will be compared with a control group to further reduce the risks of developmental psychological changes impacting on the results.

• REC name

  London - Chelsea Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  13/LO/1256

• Date of REC Opinion

  28 Oct 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion