Clinical and self-reported oral conditions and quality of life in the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort.

Abstract

To investigate and compare the effects of clinical and self-perceived oral conditions on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among young adults. Adults enrolled in the 1982 Pelotas birth cohort were included in this study. OHRQoL was assessed by the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) instrument. Clinical parameters such as dental caries, periodontitis, aesthetics, and occlusal characteristics, and tongue coating were collected through clinical evaluation, while dental anxiety and halitosis were self-reported. Direct and indirect effects of clinical and self-perceived oral conditions on OHRQoL were assessed using structural equation modelling. Five-hundred and thirty-nine individuals participated in this study. Dental caries (β=0.12) and periodontitis (β=0.11) were directly and indirectly (via halitosis, β=0.05 for periodontitis only) associated with greater OHIP-14 scores, while the other clinical conditions did not influence the OHIP-14 scores. Dental anxiety and halitosis were also associated with higher OHIP-14 scores (β=0.31 and β=0.27, respectively). This study found a positive association between clinically diagnosed and self-reported oral conditions and OHRQoL; however, the self-reported conditions had a higher impact on OHRQoL.