Impact of Tooth Loss on Quality of Life

Ektg Rocha,Ad Vanderlei,Em Trindade Filho,Af Santos,Cmb Ribeiro,Alo Lima

doi:10.4034/pboci.2016.161.08

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the impact of tooth loss on the quality of life of patients at the Cesmac University Center. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed, whose sample was composed of 224 volunteers from various health units of the selected health service with at least 12 years of age and one missing tooth. Quality of Life (QOL) was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP -14) and tooth loss was assessed with the dental chart. A structured interview that assessed the socio-economic condition of the individual was also applied. For interpretation of the OHIP-14, values were assigned using the multiplicative method: 0-3 points = no impact; 3.01 to 6 points = low impact; 6.01 to 10 points = moderate impact; and> 10.01 points = high impact. All volunteers received guidance on oral health and, when necessary, a referral to the dental care provided by this institution was performed. Results: The mean OHIP ranged from no impact (30.9%) to high impact (27.8%). The correlation between the number of missing teeth and QOL scores was statistically significant (p <0.05), as well as the correlation between number of missing teeth and age of volunteers (p <0.0001). The dimensions of the OHIP-14 that showed the most influenced domains were pain, psychological discomfort, psychological disability. Conclusion: Increasing age has shown influence on tooth and tooth loss affected the QOL of volunteers. QOL may be influenced by other factors such as loss of anterior teeth and schooling

Highlights

The World Health Organization (WHO) rejects the notion that health is merely the absence of physical disease or infirmities and considers the physical and psychological context and the social well-being of the individual [1]
Quality of Life (QOL) was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP -14) and tooth loss was assessed with the dental chart
When comparing the mean OHIP-14 score among groups of individuals with anterior and posterior tooth losses, the results showed that there was a greater negative impact on quality of life (QOL) of individuals who have lost at least one anterior tooth when compared to those who have lost only posterior teeth (Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, p

Summary

Introduction

The World Health Organization (WHO) rejects the notion that health is merely the absence of physical disease or infirmities and considers the physical and psychological context and the social well-being of the individual [1]. This definition allows the statement that an individual, even without presenting any organic alteration, to be considered healthy, has to live with quality of life (QOL) [2]. The impossibility of performing one or more of these functions leads to a transient or permanent oral inability, whose degree, extent and evolution vary from individual to individual, according to time, clinical characteristics, therapeutic possibilities and social inclusion [4]. Progressive advances that occurred from the second half of the last century, which brought to health professionals the need for greater knowledge about the feelings and perceptions of patients about their health conditions, and the need for measuring the impact of possible therapeutic interventions on their quality of life, were responsible, in part, by increasing concern with quality of life (QOL) in the health area [5,6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion