Objectives: The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the impact of two occlusal traits on the quality of life of children and their families.
Methods: A total of 180 subjects, which included 90 consecutive patients (aged 13-15 years) and their parents, were recruited on the basis of predetermined criteria to the following groups: increased overjet, spaced dentition and control. Each subject and their parent underwent separate supervised completion of a Child or Parental-Caregiver Perception questionnaire, respectively, which are components of the Child Oral Health Quality of Life questionnaire.
Results: The three groups were shown not to demonstrate any differences in socio-demographic characteristics. Statistically significant differences were observed between children in the control group and their counterparts in the increased overjet (p = 0.002) and spaced dentition (p < 0.001) groups. However, no such difference was detected between children in the increased overjet and spaced dentition groups (p = 0.5). Parents of these children demonstrated similar statistical findings: p = 0.007, p = 0.003 and p = 0.9, respectively.
Conclusions: Occlusal traits such as an increased overjet and a spaced dentition have a significant negative impact on both the children's and their families' quality of life.