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Lazaridou-Terzoudi T, Kiyak HA et al. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2003; 61: 545–552

In this study, 117 Danish patients who had been evaluated before and after orthognathic surgery 10–14 years earlier (OS) were re-evaluated and compared with 39 patients requesting this treatment (C1) and 92 patients needing none (C2).

In the OS group, perceived problems in oral function, teeth, appearance and interpersonal relations all reduced after surgery, and again after 10+ years. Current OS group scores were better than C1 and C2, though C1 appeared to have better scores for appearance than the initial OS scores. There were minor differences according to age, and men appeared less concerned with appearance and considered their body image better than women.

The authors conclude that orthognathic surgery improves psychosocial adjustment and quality of life, and that a patient's subjective assessment should be the basis for providing this treatment.