Relationship between oral health and its impact on quality of life among adolescents

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess oral health status and its relationship with quality of life. A household population, cross-sectional study was carried out; participants were between 15 and 17 years of age (n = 247) and were examined by two calibrated dentists. Socio-economic status was classified according to ANEP-ABIPEME criteria. Clinical examinations to observe DMFT, CPI and Dean indices were performed as per WHO criteria. The Significant Caries Index (SiC) was used to evaluate polarization of the occurrence of caries among participants of the tercile with higher DMF-T. The OHIP instrument was used to measure quality of life. The Spearman and Mann-Whitney tests were used for assessing correlations (5% significance level). Examinations were carried out in 117 (47.37%) females and in 130 (52.63%) males. Of the examined participants, 45.75% were classified as belonging to socio-economic class C. Caries occurrence was observed in 218 subjects (88.26%); the mean DMFT was 5.40. The SiC index was 9.97. Almost half (47.77%) of the participants examined did not present sextants affected by periodontal disease. Of the participants examined, 80.16% presented absence of fluorosis. The mean OHIP was 3.95. The following correlations were observed: a positive and statistically significant correlation between the highest score in the OHIP and decayed teeth; a positive correlation with threshold significance between OHIP and DMFT; an inverse correlation between intact teeth and OHIP; and a positive and non statistically significant correlation between SiC and OHIP (correlation coefficient = 0.13, p = 0.245). Association between the mean OHIP and the terciles was not significant (p = 0.146); there were also no associations between periodontal condition and OHIP nor were there associations between the presence of fluorosis and mean OHIP.Descriptors: Oral health; Teen health; Quality of life.

Prevalence of Dental Caries and Related Factors among Youth Law Offenders Attended by the Socioeducation Center of Ponta Grossa, Brazil

“…Another study observed the oral health status and its relationship with quality of life of adolescents aged 15-17 years and found average OHIP-14 of 3.95 [25], while in the present study, this value was 12.39. As in this study, this study found a positive and statistically significant correlation between higher OHIP score and presence of decayed teeth [25].…”

Agreement between adolescents' and their mothers' reports of oral health-related quality of life

“…For adolescents, relationships between peers are important components of their perceptions of health and quality of life. 21 There were statistically significant differences between the reports of the mothers and adolescents on the FL and SWB subscales. However, in determining the level of agreement of the pairs individually, significant moderate agreement was found for the items "difficulty eating or drinking hot or cold foods" (FL subscale) and "avoided smiling or laughing when around other adolescents" (SWB).…”

Longitudinal impact of clinical and socioenvironmental variables on oral health-related quality of life in adolescents

“…1 Associations between oral diseases and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children and adolescents have been described in several cross-sectional studies. 2,3,4,5 Albeit very helpful in investigating the potential causes of a health condition, prospective cohort studies in this area are still scarce. 6 In addition, social determinants of health such as socioeconomic status and family environmental characteristics have been linked to oral health in children and adolescents.…”