The objective of the present study was to evaluate the association of socioeconomic status (SES) as a latent variable on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) using four definitions of functional dentition (FD) for elderly people. Four sets of multilevel generalised structural equation models (GSEM) were used: (i) WHO Functional Dentition (FDWHO); (ii) Well-distributed teeth (WDT); (iii) FDclass5 ; and (iv) FDclass6 . The indirect effects of SES on OHRQoL were measured in 5951 elderly participants in the São Paulo Oral Health 2015 (SBSP-15) survey. The latent variable (OHRQoL) was extracted from the Oral Impacts on Daily Performances questionnaire, and GSEM was used to estimate the direction of association among the variables. SES was directly and strongly associated with FDWHO (Total effects [SC]=0.56, P<.001); WDT (Total Effects [SC]=0.55, P<.001); FDclass5 (Total effects [SC]=0.07, P<.001); and FDclass6 (Total effects [SC]=0.05, P=.001). All FD outcomes mediate effects of SES on OHRQoL (P<.05). SES had a direct effect on happiness which, in turn, had a direct effect on OHRQoL ([SC]=0.05, P<.001). All definitions of FD were good at mediating the effects of SES on OHRQoL, showing the importance of occlusal and periodontal statuses of elderly individuals.