The Impact of Polydiastema on Oral Health and Quality of Life in Orthodontic Patients: Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of polydiastema on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adolescent patients and their parents/caregivers. The Turkish versions of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ) and Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ) were used to assess patient and parental perceptions. Material and Methods: The study included 59 polydiastema patients (12-18 years) with complete permanent dentition and their parents/caregivers, recruited from Ordu University Faculty of Dentistry Orthodontics Clinic. Participants completed validated CPQ (39 questions) and P-CPQ (35 questions) questionnaires assessing oral symptoms, functional limitations, emotional well-being, and social well-being. The Likert-based questionnaires associate lower scores with better OHRQoL. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with p