Can orthognathic surgery be expected to improve patients’ psychological well‐being? The challenge of hedonic adaptation

The online attention analysis on orthognathic surgery research

OBJECTIVES

Altmetrics is one of the fields of bibliometrics that seeks to assess the impact and interest of a given subject through Internet users. The aim of this study is to make an altmetric analysis of the orthognathic surgery literature.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted using Dimensions app up to December 2023. A list of the 100 most mentioned articles on the topic was compiled. A Google Trends search was performed with same strategy to visualize important data regarding internet search. Charts and tables were created using Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer software to allow bibliometric visualization.

RESULTS

There was a very poor correlation between the number of mentions and the number of citations (r = 0.0202). Most articles discussed on technical innovations associated to orthognathic surgery, majority related to virtual planning (n = 26). Other topics considered interesting to internet readers were complications (n = 18), surgical technique (n = 14), and psychological aspects/quality of life (n = 13).

CONCLUSION

Online interest in orthognathic surgery closely aligns with the level of academic interest but is also influenced by factors such as location and economic status. The internet is a powerful tool for disseminating scientific research to a broad audience, making it more accessible and engaging than traditional academic channels.

Starting a Swedish national quality registry for orthognathic surgery: a tool for auditing fundamentals of care

BACKGROUND

National quality registries (NQRs) provide open data for user-directed acquisition. National Quality Registry (NQR) data are often used to analyze the rates of treatment success and adverse events for studies that aim to improve treatment quality and patient satisfaction. Thus, NQRs promote the goal of achieving evidence-based therapies. However, the scientific literature seldom focuses on the complex process of initiating, designing, and implementing an NQR. Starting an NQR may be particularly challenging in a setting where specialized care is decentralized, such as orthognathic surgery in Sweden. The present study describes the initiation and early phases of a new NQR for orthognathic surgery in Sweden.

METHODS

The initial inventory phase included gaining knowledge on regulations, creating economic plans, and identifying pitfalls in existing NQRs. Next, a crude framework for the registry was achieved. Outcome measures were selected with a nation-wide questionnaire, followed by a Delphi-like process for selecting parameters to include in the NQR. Our inclusive process comprised a stepwise introduction, feedback-based modifications, and preparatory educational efforts. Descriptive data were collected, based on the first 2 years (2018-2019) of registry operation.

RESULTS

Two years after implementation, 862 patients that underwent 1320 procedures were registered. This number corresponded to a 91% coverage rate. Bimaxillary treatments predominated, and the most common were a Le Fort I osteotomy combined with a bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (n = 275). Reoperations were conducted in 32 patients (3.6%), and the rate of patient satisfaction was 95%.

CONCLUSIONS

A National Quality Registry should preferentially be started and maintained by an appointed task force of active clinicians. A collaborative, transparent, inclusive process may be an important factor for achieving credibility and high coverage, particularly in a decentralized setting.

Does orthognathic treatment improve patients' psychosocial well-being?

OBJECTIVE

To analyse changes in patients' psychosocial well-being from before treatment until post-surgical orthodontic treatment (including retention) is completed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected six times: before treatment (T0), 6-8 weeks after the placement of orthodontic appliances (T2), 3-4 weeks before surgery (T3), six weeks after surgery (T4), one year after surgery (T5) and after completing orthodontic treatment (T6; 20-57 months after surgery). At T0, 60 patients participated while at T6, data was available for 15 patients. All patients completed the Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Questionnaire (RSES), Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II (AAQ-II) and the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90). All pairwise comparisons between variables were conducted with the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

OQLQ function, RSES, AAQ-II and SCL GSI worsened from T0 to T2. At T5, improvements compared to T0 were found in all aspects of OQLQ and SCL GSI. When comparing results at T6 to T0, improvements where only found in OQLQ sum, OQLQ facial aesthetics and OQLQ function.

CONCLUSIONS

Although well-being of orthognathic patients seems to improve during treatment, many improvements cannot be verified anymore at the completion of the retention period. Most stable changes are found in the oral function component and in the facial aesthetics component of the OQLQ.

Orthognathic surgery and orthodontics associated with orofacial harmonization: Case report

Introduction and importance

Orthognathic surgery aims to restore the functional and esthetic standards of the face and non-surgical or minimally invasive procedures have been optimizing the results of facial orthosurgical treatments. This case report aimed to show the use of minimally invasive techniques that, associated with orthognathic surgery, represent a trend in current oral and maxillofacial rehabilitation.

Case presentation

A female patient, 28 years old, white, sought care from the Dentistry team of the São Vicente de Paulo Hospital, in Passo Fundo, Brazil, complaining of mandibular prognathism, anteroposterior maxillary deficiency, dental crowding, malocclusion, functional and esthetic changes that negatively affected her psychosocial interactions and stomatognathic function. The treatment involved orthodontics, orthognathic surgery, and orofacial harmonization with dermal fillers.

Clinical discussion

The multidisciplinarity among the specialties of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, Orthodontics, and Orofacial Harmonization add and contribute to the process of planning and implementing the treatment proposed, as well as the prognosis toward patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

The surgical procedure associated with minimally invasive facial harmonization not only corrected the functional complaint of the patient but also played an important role in improving facial harmony, contributing significantly to self-esteem.

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Minimally invasive facial harmonization refines orthognathic surgery techniques.

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The integration of several disciplines helps to improve facial harmony.

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Injectable fillers represent important allies in orthosurgical treatments.

Quality of life several years after orthodontic-surgical treatment with bilateral sagittal split osteotomy

Objective: To analyse oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) several years after orthognathic treatment in patients who had Class II malocclusion with retrognathic mandible.Material and methods: The initial study cohort comprised 151 patients with orthognathic treatment in 2007-2011. Of them, 77 patients (Group 1, mean age 41 years, range 19-71 years, 71% women) were clinically examined 6 years (range 4-8 years) after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO). Group 2 included 24 former patients (mean 48 years, range 25-79 years, 50% women) who were willing to participate in a structured telephone interview. Group 3 consisted of 22 prospective patients (mean 35 years, range 18-56 years, 86% women) with a recent orthognathic treatment plan and awaiting treatment. QoL was assessed using two questionnaires, OHIP-14 and OQLQ.Results: Based on responses, patients who had received orthognathic treatment (Groups 1 and 2) had better QoL than those awaiting treatment (Group 3).Conclusion: Conventional orthognathic treatment, including mandibular advancement with BSSO, seems to have a positive long-term effect on patients' QoL. More long-term follow-up studies are needed to assess the real impact of treatment on patients' lives in the long run.