Assessment of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Its Association with Dental Caries, Periodontal Status, and Tooth Loss Among Adult Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Dental Centre: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Oral health is an integral component of general health and well-being and influences essential functions such as eating, speaking, social interaction, and psychological well-being. Dental caries, periodontal disease, and tooth loss are among the most prevalent oral conditions and may have substantial effects on daily functioning and quality of life. Conventional clinical indices quantify oral disease but do not fully capture the subjective consequences experienced by patients. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), assessed using validated patient-reported instruments such as the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14), provides complementary information regarding the functional, physical, psychological, and social effects of oral disease.

Objective: To assess OHRQoL among adult patients attending a tertiary care dental centre and determine its association with dental caries, periodontal status, and tooth loss.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 250 adult patients attending a tertiary care dental centre over a 12-month study period. Sociodemographic and dental information was collected using a structured data collection form. OHRQoL was assessed using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). A comprehensive oral examination was performed to assess dental caries, periodontal status, and tooth loss. Dental caries experience was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index. Periodontal status was assessed using standardized clinical criteria. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. Associations between OHIP-14 scores and clinical oral health parameters were assessed using appropriate comparative and correlation tests.

Results: The 250 participants had a mean age of 42.8 ± 13.6 years, with 132 (52.8%) males and 118 (47.2%) females. Dental caries was identified in 181 (72.4%) participants, and the mean DMFT score was 5.84 ± 3.91. Gingivitis was present in 72 (28.8%) participants, while 86 (34.4%) had moderate periodontitis and 42 (16.8%) had severe periodontitis. Tooth loss involving at least one permanent tooth was observed in 154 (61.6%) participants, with a mean of 2.74 ± 3.21 missing teeth. The mean OHIP-14 score was 12.7 ± 8.9. Participants with dental caries had higher mean OHIP-14 scores than those without caries (14.8 ± 9.1 vs. 7.1 ± 5.8; p<0.001). OHIP-14 scores increased progressively with periodontal disease severity, from 8.3 ± 6.4 among participants without significant periodontal involvement to 20.1 ± 9.7 among those with severe disease (p<0.001). Participants with four or more missing teeth had substantially higher OHIP-14 scores than those without tooth loss (19.4 ± 10.1 vs. 8.1 ± 6.0; p<0.001). OHIP-14 scores demonstrated positive correlations with DMFT score (ρ=0.48), number of decayed teeth (ρ=0.39), number of missing teeth (ρ=0.51), and periodontal severity (ρ=0.44), all p<0.001.

Conclusion: Poorer oral health-related quality of life was associated with greater dental caries experience, increasing periodontal disease severity, and greater tooth loss. The findings support the integration of patient-reported OHRQoL assessment with conventional clinical examination to provide a more comprehensive understanding of oral disease burden.