Background: Oral health plays a vital role in general well-being, especially during adolescence, when physiological and psychosocial development is at its peak. Dental malocclusions can negatively affect oral function and self-esteem, leading to impaired oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). While orthodontic treatment aims to correct these issues, comparative evidence on how clear aligners versus fixed appliances affect adolescents’ OHRQoL remains limited in Morocco. Objective: To compare the oral health-related quality of life among adolescents aged 14 - 18 years treated with clear aligners and those using fixed multi-bracket appliances. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted between March and May 2025 in multiple dental centers, including the Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences Dental Care Center and several private clinics. A total of 100 adolescents (50 with clear aligners, 50 with fixed appliances) completed the validated Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS. Group comparisons were made with Student’s t-test and Chi-square tests, with significance set at P < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the UM6SS Ethics Committee, and informed consent was collected from participants and their guardians. Results: Adolescents treated with clear aligners reported significantly lower OHIP-14 mean scores (9.92 ± 2.49) compared to those with fixed appliances (30.92 ± 2.79, P < 0.01), indicating a better OHRQoL. Across all seven OHIP-14 dimensions, clear aligner users scored lower, with the most notable differences observed in functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, and social disability. Conclusion: Clear aligners were associated with a significantly more favorable oral health-related quality of life among Moroccan adolescents compared to fixed appliances. These findings highlight the psychosocial and functional advantages of aligner therapy and emphasize the importance of incorporating quality-of-life outcomes in orthodontic treatment planning.
Cite this paper
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