Psychological status and quality of life of orthognathic patients – highlights in “surgery first” approach
Psychological status and quality of life of orthognathic patients – highlights in “surgery first” approach

Summary/Abstract: The aesthetic aspect, irrespective of the era and the dominant trend represent a definingelement of the individuals’ quality of life. Patients with dento - facial anomalies carry a moreor less conscious stigma that gives them a psychological and social disadvantage. Along withoral health, speech and masticatory impairment, these persons experience different degrees ofmental well-being alteration, affecting the entire spectrum that represents quality of life.Dento-skeletal anomalies, especially those involving the anterior region of the jaw can lead toa distorted perception of the entire body image and consequently to a lifelong negativeinfluence. Individuals with negative facial body image view themselves as less outgoing andless socially skilled than those with positive facial image, independent of objective judgementsof the individual’s facial attractiveness.Orthognathic surgery is typically planned in order to correct malocclusion and otherfunctional impairment, but also to improve facial appearance and consequently the quality oflife, often the main motivation of patients who choose this treatment and request amultidisciplinary approach, involving orthodontists, maxillofacial surgeons, psychologists,physiotherapists.

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