The evaluation of the effects of different orthodontic treatment modalities on oral health–related quality of life, self-esteem, and peer bullying in children

Objective: This thesis aims to evaluate oral-health–related quality of life, self-esteem, and peer bullying levels in children undergoing orthodontic treatment with intraoral appliances, extraoral appliances, or fixed methods. Methods: The study was conducted on 101 individuals aged 8–16 who applied to the Department of Orthodontics at Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry. Participants were divided into three groups according to the treatment method: fixed orthodontic treatment, intraoral appliance, and extraoral appliance. At the beginning of treatment, at the end of the first month, and at the end of treatment, the "Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14)," "Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale," and "Child–Adolescent Bullying Scale-9 Short Form" were administered. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Findings: In the comparison of the extraoral and intraoral appliance groups, oral-health–related quality of life decreased over time, while self-esteem increased; however, whether this increase occurred in the extraoral or intraoral group did not produce a statistically significant difference. According to the measurements taken at the beginning and during treatment, self-esteem increased in all three treatment groups after one month. Peer bullying and oral-health–related quality of life decreased during this first month, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion: As treatment progresses, self-esteem increases while peer bullying levels decrease. Oral-health–related quality of life also decreases, likely due to the adjustment period at the start of treatment. These findings indicate that orthodontic treatment is an important intervention not only for dental correction but also for social and emotional development. Keywords: Orthodontic treatment, oral health-related quality of life, self-esteem, bullying, psychosocial impact