Impact of Oral Conditions on Quality of Life among Adolescents

Objectives: Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a current topic in dental literature. The present study assessed the association between OHRQoL and sociodemographic and clinical conditions in a population-based sample of Brazilian adolescents.

Methods: This study followed a cross-sectional design with 1,612 adolescents, from 11 to 14 years of age, enrolled in public and private schools in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Participants completed the short Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ11-14 ISF:16). The dental examination was carried out independently by three dentists after the calibration process. The criteria used included the World Health Organization criteria for untreated dental caries, the Andreasen classification for traumatic dental injury, and the Dental Aesthetic Index for malocclusion. Sociodemographic variables were also recorded. Associations between the CPQ11-14 ISF:16 scores and socioeconomic factors and oral clinic variables were evaluated by the Poisson regression model with robust variance.

Results: Higher negative impact on OHRQoL was observed for adolescents with untreated dental caries (PR 0.92; 95% CI 0.86-0.99), for adolescents with severe/handicapping malocclusion (PR 1.14; 95% CI 1.07-1.21), and for girls (PR 1.12; 95% CI 1.05-1.19). Traumatic dental injury showed no clear association with CPQ11-14 ISF:16 scores (p=0.85). Adolescents enrolled in public schools presented the worst quality of life due to oral conditions (PR 1.09; 95% CI 1.01-1.18).

Conclusions: Adolescents with untreated dental caries, with severe/handicapping malocclusion, and who were enrolled in public schools produced a negative impact on the OHRQoL. Social policies, especially educational and oral health programs targeting adolescents, should be the pillar for reducing social and oral health inequalities.