Bullying Due to Dentofacial Features and Its Relationship With Quality of Life in View of Oral Health

Abstract

Bullying is defined as the aggressive behavior or intentional harm to which an individual is repeatedly subjected in a relationship characterized by instability, usually triggered by social, religious, and physical characteristics that distinguish the victim from other members of the group. Deviation from normal dentofacial aesthetics leads to increased incidences of bullying in children and teenagers with a reported worldwide prevalence of 5% to 58%, causing both physiological and psychological harm with both long-term and short-term effects, affecting an individual's psychosocial status and causing social disadvantage. The purpose of this chapter is to analyze the effect of dentofacial deviations on bullying and quality of line in view of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) matrix and highlight the importance of informing the public via public health policies, anti-bullying policies in schools, and dental professionals as they are likely to have bullied patients among their clients.