Effect of sociodemographic charecteristics, oral hygiene and dietary habits and caries experience on the oral health related quality of life

The aim of this study was to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of a group of patients using OHIP-14 (Oral Health Impact Profile-14) and OHRQoL-UK (Oral Health Related Quality of Life-United Kingdom) scales and to correlate these scores with their sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene and dietary habits, and caries experiences. A group of patients recruited by Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Dentistry Tepebaşı Training and Research Hospital, Department of Restorative Dentistry were screened and 537 patients; aged 18 years and older, had the ability to understand and respond to reading and accepted to participate were included in the study. After informed consent forms were obtained; a preliminary questionnaire containing questions on sociodemographic characteristics, oral hygiene and dietery habits, OHRQoL levels were determined by using OHIP-14 and OHRQoL-UK scales. Oral and radiological examinatons were performed and DMFT, PUFA and SiC indices were evaluated. One third of the participants with the highest DMFT was catagorized as high caries experience group and the remaining 2/3 was catagorized as low caries experience group according to the SiC index. Statistical analyzes were performed using IBM SPSS for Windows Version 23.0 program and at p<0.05 significance level. D, M, F, DMFT values and P, U, F, A, PUFA total values affected the quality of life of the participants (p<0.05). While OHIP-14 scores were higher in the high caries experience group; OHRQoL-UK scores were found to be less than the low caries experience group (p<0.05). M, F, DMFT values and F (fistula) values were found to be higher in the high caries experience group than in the low caries experience group (p<0.05). OHRQoL decreased as the caries experience increased. OHRQoL was associated with various sociodemographic characteristics. Participants' scores for their own oral health were found to be associated with OHRQoL. Sociodemographic variables, oral hygiene and dietary habits were partially related to the caries experience. OHRQoL scores may differ by sociodemographic variables, oral hygiene and dietary habits and caries experience of the individuals.