Dental caries related to quality of life in two Brazilian adolescent groups: a cross-sectional randomised study

Abstract

Objectives: To analyse dental caries‐related quality of life (QoL) in adolescent (15–19‐year‐old) subjects in a suburban area (SA) and a downtown area (DA) of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2009. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional, randomised study. The sample consisted of 185 and 147 adolescents from the SA and DA, respectively. The caries index used was that for decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) (World Health Organization criteria). The 14‐item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP‐14) was used to assess QoL. The non‐parametric Mann–Whitney test, Spearman’s correlation coefficient and chi‐squared test were used in the statistical analysis. Results: The DMFT index, Significant Caries (SiC) Index and percentage of caries‐free students were similar (P > 0.05) between these populations, but findings on the Care Index differed (P < 0.05). There was a correlation between the DMFT index and OHIP‐14 score in SA subjects (mean DMFT index = 3.01) in the dimensions of physical pain (r = 0.25; P < 0.01) and psychological disability (r = 0.17; P = 0.02). The DMFT index in DA subjects (mean DMFT index = 2.95) showed a correlation with functional limitation (r = 0.19; P = 0.02). The correlation in SA subjects between the caries component (mean = 1.22) of the DMFT index and OHIP‐14 was significant only for the physical pain dimension (r = 0.16; P = 0.03). In DA subjects, correlations between the caries component (mean = 0.37) and all dimensions of OHIP‐14 were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Despite the similarities in means in the DMFT index, the SiC Index and the caries‐free percentage of subjects in both localities, access to dental treatment proved to be less effective for SA adolescents. Physical pain and psychological disability were the most frequent negative manifestations of impact on QoL. The SA adolescents were more negatively affected by dental caries in terms of QoL.

Associations of Internet Use with Oral Hygiene Based on National Youth Risk Behavior Survey

“…dental caries) during adolescence could affect health-related quality of life (HRQOL). 24,25) Our findings suggested that problematic Internet use could lead not only to mental health problems but also to HRQOL in adolescent group. It is known that addictive behaviors are inversely associated with lower quality of life.…”

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Associated Factors in Brazilian Adolescents

“…Furthermore, negative impact of quality of life measured by the OHIP-14 is usually increased by higher DMFT (30).…”

Influência da saúde bucal sobre a qualidade de vida de adolescentes escolares

“…Para avaliar o impacto das condições de saúde bucal sobre a qualidade de vida dos adolescentes, aplicou-se aos participantes do estudo o questionário Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), validado no idioma português (14) e utilizado como instrumento para verificar as experiências vivenciadas pelos adolescentes nos últimos 12 meses, segundo metodologia preconizada (15) . O OHIP-14, através de 14 perguntas, permitiu avaliar os seguintes parâmetros ou dimensões na qualidade de vida: limitação funcional, dor física, desconforto psicológico, incapacidade física, incapacidade psicológica, incapacidade social e desvantagem social.…”

“…Assim, classificou-se o impacto geral em: fraco, quando os índices obtidos variaram de 0 a 9; médio, entre 10 e 18; e forte, entre 19 e 28. A avaliação do impacto por domínio ou dimensão seguiu a metodologia utilizada em outro estudo (15) : fraco (≤ 1,33), médio (1,33 < x < 2,67) e forte (≥ 2,67).…”