Abstract
This study evaluates the psychological effects in female patients who underwent orthognathic surgery of mandibular prognathism.
Twenty-nine untreated and 28 post-operative female patients were selected as the Pre-Operative Group (Pre Op.) and the Post-Operative Group (Post Op.) respectively.
In order to compare these two groups, the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Inventory and a questionnaire specially designed for this study were used. The questionnaire was composed of 20 items concerning facial esthetics and oral functions. Each answer being accompanied by a 7-point response scale was statistically analyzed by factor analysis.
As the results of this questionnaire, 6 factors were extracted. In both the second factor (inferiority complex about facial profiles) and the third one (inferiority complex about tooth alignment), the factor scores of the Post Op. were significantly lower than those of the Pre Op.
The results of the Yatabe-Guilford Personality Inventory showed that the Post Op. had relatively less Depression (D) and Nervousness (N), and conversely greater Cooperativeness (Co) than the Pre Op.
Since the inferiority derived from unesthetic facial profiles and malocclusions was dramatically improved in the post operative stage, it could be concluded that the orthognathic surgery greatly contributed to acquirve the emotional stabilization and the social adaptation for female mandibular prognathic patients.
