Unraveling the association between oral impacts on daily performances and dental caries among adults in a South Indian Metropolis

Abstract

Objectives: Conventionally, oral health outcomes have been assessed using clinical criteria and the subjective opinions of clinicians. However, these methods have failed to capture the true impact of oral diseases on an individual’s overall quality of life (QoL). Specifically, dental caries and tooth loss have been identified as factors that can significantly affect an individual’s oral health-related QoL (OHRQoL). Taking this into consideration, a recent study was conducted to investigate the association between oral impacts on daily performance (OIDP) scores and the oral health status of adults aged 25 years and older residing in Bengaluru South. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 800 adults aged 25 years and older in Bengaluru, South city. Clinical examination was performed using the decayed, missing-filled teeth (DMFT) index. OHRQoL was assessed using the OIDP questionnaire. For statistical analysis, the Chi-square test, Mann– Whitney U-test, Kruskal–Wallis test, and Spearman’s correlation were applied. Results: 70.4% of the study participants had at least one oral impact affecting their daily performances. Out of eight daily performances, the most affected performance was eating, followed by emotional stability and carrying out major work. DMFT was significantly associated with OIDP. Conclusion: The prevalence of OIDPs in this population is high. Oral impacts had affected their QoL primarily through difficulties in eating. Appropriate program implementation is required for the upliftment of such deprived populations.