The impacts of oral health on quality of life in working adults

Abstract

This study investigated the impacts of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) on daily activities and work productivity in adults. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a supermarket chain in the state of São Paulo, which included 386 workers, age-range 20 - 64 years. Participants were examined for oral disease following WHO recommendations, and the oral health impact profile (OHIP) assessment was used to determine OHRQoL. Demographic, socio-economic, use of dental services, and OHRQoL data were obtained. Answers to the OHIP were dichotomized into no impact and some impact, and the relationship to OHRQoL was determined. Poisson regression with robust variance was performed using SPSS version 17.0. Dimensions with highest OHIP scores were physical pain and psychological discomfort. Sex (male: PR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.38 - 0.80), lower family income (PR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.04 - 2.12), visiting a dentist due to pain (PR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.57 - 3.43), tooth loss (PR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.09 - 2.32), and needing treatment for caries (PR = 1.59, 95% CI 1.09 - 2.32) were most likely to impact OHRQoL. Therefore, socioeconomic and demographic status and use of dental services impacted OHRQoL. These results indicate that oral health promotion strategies should be included in work environments.

Impact of Oral Problems on the Quality Of Life of Women Subjected To Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Longitudinal Study

“…A higher impact has been found in women, lower family income and low schoolin [9,24]. However, these results differ from studies in Australia and the United States, in which the frequency of impact was lower [13].…”

“…Although, less is known about the impacts of oral health on quality of life [9]. The assessment of oral health and its impact on the quality of life of individuals is an important step in health care practices, and some measuring instruments have been proposed in the literature to perform this assessment [10].…”

Oral Health Status of Brazilian Workers of a Textile Industry

“…However, both the loss of dental elements and the presence of caries have a dramatic impact on workers' quality of life [24]. Thus, like medical care is one of the priorities among factory workers to maintain the high standard of working hours and reduce absenteeism [1], oral health also needs attention.…”

Associations among oral health-related quality of life, subjective symptoms, clinical status, and self-rated oral health in Japanese university students: a cross-sectional study

“…Periodontal disease also affects OHRQoL [4–6]. The relationship between dental clinical status and OHRQoL has also been demonstrated in some community-based studies including elderly and young populations [6–14]. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between dental clinical status and OHRQoL in the young population in Japan.…”