General health and oral health self-ratings, and impact of oral problems among older adults

The aim was to assess associations of general and oral health perceptions, and the impact of general and oral health functional problems on general health perceptions. Data were collected from adults, 60-71 yr of age in 2008, and included global self-ratings of general and oral health, Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) scores, and health problem scores [using the five items from the EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D)]. Responses were collected from 444 subjects (response rate = 68.8%). Self-rated general and oral health showed fair to good agreement (kappa = 0.47). Adjusted estimates of self-rated general health showed that worse ratings were associated with lower social status [prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.42] and with more health problems (PR = 0.64). Adjusted estimates of self-rated oral health also showed that worse ratings were associated with lower social status (PR = 0.48) and with more health problems (PR = 0.63), as well as with higher OHIP scores (PR = 0.21). The interaction of health problems and OHIP scores was significant for self-rated general health, with self-rated general health being worse when both health problems and OHIP score were higher. For older adults, general health and oral health were associated, although oral health impact was only associated with general health for those with more health problems, indicating that those in worse health suffer more impact from oral health problems.     

What Do Older Adults' Global Self‐ratings of Oral Health Measure?

OBJECTIVE: Although global self-ratings of oral health are widely used in oral health research, the frames of reference on which older people's ratings are based are not known. This study used a quantitative approach in order to identify these referents. METHODS: Data were collected from 498 dentate subjects aged 53 years and over who took part in the second stage of a three-phase longitudinal epidemiological and sociodental study. Data were obtained by means of a personal interview and clinical oral examination and a self-complete version of the 49-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP). These data were used to construct measures of oral disorders, oral symptoms, the functional and psychosocial impacts of oral disorders, health behaviours and contextual variables such as general health status, socioeconomic status and sociodemographic characteristics. Bivariate and linear regression analyses were used to identify which of these variables predicted self-ratings of oral health. RESULTS: One quarter of subjects stated that their oral health was only fair or poor. At the bivariate level most variables were associated with self-ratings of oral health. The regression model for all subjects indicated that the most important predictor of these self-ratings was the OHIP functional limitations sub-scale score. This explained 23% of the variation in the self-ratings. Six other variables entered the model and increased the R2 value to 0.36. There was some variation in the models and the influence of various factors by age and educational attainment. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the referents that inform older adults' ratings of oral health are broadly similar to those that have been reported to inform their ratings of general health and differ across groups.     

Predictors of change in satisfaction with chewing ability: a 24-month study of dentate adults

People's satisfaction with chewing ability is not determined entirely by their mechanical chewing function. Instead, it is a complex measure that embraces broad physical, social and psychological components. Using data from the Florida Dental Care Study, a prospective longitudinal study of oral health and dental care, this current study aimed to identify the longitudinal relationships between changes in satisfaction with chewing ability and changes in other dimensions of oral health and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A multidimensional conceptual model of oral health and OHRQoL was applied to guide the analysis. Most dentate people were satisfied with their chewing ability. However, changes in satisfaction with chewing ability were common: nearly 11-22% of subjects experienced improved satisfaction, depending on the interval; while about 12-18% of subjects experienced deteriorated satisfaction by the end of the interval. Changes in satisfaction with chewing ability were significantly associated with changes in other aspects of oral health and OHRQoL. Onset of certain oral health problems/conditions or constantly having such problems was associated with a lower probability of reporting improvement in satisfaction and a higher probability of experiencing deterioration. In contrast, recovery from certain oral health problems/conditions or not having such problems was associated with a higher probability of improvement and a lower probability of deterioration.     

Oral health-related quality of life among adults 68-77 years old in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway

Dental health has mostly been measured by dental staff disregarding patient's experiences. However, clinical conditions alone do not fully indicate how people feel affected by their oral status. The aim of this study was to investigate how clinical recorded dental health, self-rated dental health, satisfaction with dental health were related to oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) assessed by Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) in 68-77 years old. A total of 151 individuals completed a questionnaire on self-rated dental health, satisfaction with dental health and the short form of OHIP-14. Clinical examination was performed registering number of teeth and dental caries. In total 63% of the individuals rated their dental health as good, and 59% were satisfied with their dental health. Using the OHIP-14 42% reported no problems or oral discomfort at all. The proportion of individuals reporting problems or discomfort varied between 13% and 43% according to the dimensions of OHIP-14. The most frequently reported problems were physical pain (43%), psychological discomfort (28%) and psychological disability (28%). Individuals who rated their dental health as poor and those who were dissatisfied with their dental health had significantly lower OHRQoL than other individuals. The study showed relationship between self-evaluations of dental health and OHRQoL in 68-77 years old. Individuals with few teeth reported lower OHRQoL than others, but no association between clinical caries status and OHRQoL could be found.     

Oral health literacy,self-rated oral health,and oral health-related quality of life in Brazilian adults

The aim of this study was to investigate associations between oral health literacy (OHL), self-rated oral health (SROH), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Brazilian adults. A sample of 523 Brazilian adults completed the short-form Health Literacy in Dentistry (HeLD-14) and the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) instruments that measure OHL and OHRQoL, respectively. The prevalence ratios (PRs) for outcome variables and their 95% CIs were quantified. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were applied, as the statistical models, to estimate bivariate and multivariable relationships of oral health outcomes with OHL, after adjusting for covariates. No significant association was found between poor SROH (as measured by single items) and OHL (PR = 1.28; 95% CI: 0.87–1.88); by contrast, significant associations were found between poor SROH and income (PR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.04–2.21), toothbrushing frequency (PR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.11–2.58), reason for dental visiting (PR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.03–2.13), and self-rated general health (PR = 3.44; 95% CI: 2.38–4.97). The OHL level (PR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.21–2.56), educational level (PR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.41–0.93), reason for dental visiting (PR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.30–2.61), and self-rated general health (PR = 1.51; 95% CI: 1.03–2.23) were associated with poor OHRQoL.     

Comparison of Oral Health Ratings by Dentists and Dentate Elders

Previous studies suggest a discrepancy between the way dentists and patients measure oral health. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between a dentist's rating of an older dentate person's oral health and the patient self-rating using a single-item indicator, and to compare the clinical (i.e., number of teeth, caries, etc.) and subjective (problems with function, pain, etc.) factors that influence the rating. The study sample consisted of 776 older dentate people. Results showed that dentists judged subjects' oral health significantly more positively than the self-ratings. Approximately 30 percent of the elders rated their oral health identically to the dentist and half rated their oral health lower than the dentist. Bivariate comparisons showed that similar clinical and subjective variables were associated with the dentist and patient ratings. Multiple regression findings, however, highlighted differences in the factors that influenced the ratings. In addition, the proportion of variance accounted for by the clinical factors as opposed to the subjective factors was greater for the dentist rating (R²=.28 of.33) than the subject self-rating (R²=.18 of.43).     

Oral health-related quality of life in patients seeking care for dentin hypersensitivity

Summary  The aim of the present study was to evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) impairment in patients seeking care for their hypersensitive teeth in comparison with general population subjects and to investigate the influence of gender and age on OHRQoL in these populations. Study participants were 656 patients without removable prosthodontics who sought treatment for their hypersensitive teeth in German dental offices. These patients were asked to complete the German form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G) prior to treatment. The sum of OHIP-G item responses (OHIP-G49, 0–196) characterized the OHRQoL impairment. Patients' OHIP summary scores were compared with those in a sample of the German general population ( n  = 1541). The influence of population (patients vs. general population subjects), gender and age was investigated using a multivariable linear regression model. Age presented a curvilinear association with OHRQoL, with lower OHIP scores associated with younger and older adults and higher OHIP scores (indicating impaired OHRQoL) associated with middle-aged adults in both the patient and general populations. Gender influence depended on the population, i.e. female general population subjects had lower OHIP scores than male general population subjects and female patients had higher OHIP scores than male patients. Mean OHIP summary scores indicated that patients with hypersensitive teeth reported considerably more impaired OHRQoL (approximately 22 OHIP units) than subjects in the general population. The present study suggests that the oral condition of hypersensitive teeth is significantly associated with impaired OHRQoL.     

A literature review of aesthetic perceptions of dental fluorosis and relationships with psychosocial aspects/oral health‐related quality of life

Chankanka O, Levy SM, Warren JJ, Chalmers JM. A literature review of aesthetic perceptions of dental fluorosis and relationships with psychosocial aspects/oral health‐related quality of life. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Aesthetic perceptions and oral health‐related quality of life concerning dental fluorosis have been assessed in several studies during the past two decades. However, no comprehensive review article summarizing the studies investigating this issue has been published. Objective: To assess the relationships between perceptions of dental appearance/oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) and dental fluorosis. Methods: The PubMed database was searched using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for English‐language studies from 1985 to March 2009. Thirty‐five articles qualified for inclusion and then were classified into three categories based on the type of study approach: (i) respondent review of photographs and assessment concerning satisfaction/acceptance, (ii) respondent assessment of study subject’s teeth concerning satisfaction/acceptance, and (iii) respondent assessments of the psychosocial/OHRQoL impact. Results: There were varied results from earlier studies focused on satisfaction/acceptance of very mild to mild fluorosis. More recent studies with methodological improvements to assess impact on quality of life clearly showed that mild fluorosis was not a concern. Furthermore, mild fluorosis was sometimes associated with improved OHRQoL. Severe fluorosis was consistently reported to have negative effects on OHRQoL. Conclusion: Because dental fluorosis in the United States and other nations without high levels of naturally‐occurring fluoride is mild or very mild, with little impact on OHRQoL, dental professionals should emphasize the appropriate use of fluorides for caries prevention and preventing moderate/severe fluorosis.     

Deficits in perceptions of oral health relative to general health in populations

OBJECTIVE: To compare perceptions of general health versus oral health within two populations. METHODS: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data obtained from representative samples of dentate adults in Australia and the United States. Australian data were collected in the 2002 National Dental Telephone Interview Survey and United States data were from the NHANES, 1988-1994. A stratified analysis compared self-ratings of general and oral health among groups classified by age, socioeconomic status and access to dental care. RESULTS: In Australia, 43.6% rated their dental health 'very good' or 'excellent' whereas 58.6% rated their general health 'very good' or 'excellent'--a deficit of 15.0%. In the US, there was a comparable deficit of 24.2%. The deficit could be explained as a 'generation gap' where oral health ratings of the youngest cohort resembled the general health ratings of middle-aged adults in Australia and retirees in the US. An 'affluence gap' was evident where the oral health ratings of wealthier adults resembled the general health ratings of disadvantaged adults. Among Australians with private dental insurance who had visited a dentist in the past year the oral health deficit was negligible. Similar stratification in the US sample considerably attenuated the deficit. CONCLUSION: There is a deficit in perceived oral health compared with general health at all stages of adulthood and spanning the socioeconomic spectrum. The deficit was diminished among insured adults who had made a dental visit within the preceding year, suggesting that improved access to dental services may help redress the discrepancy.     

Oral health-related quality of life in a birth cohort of 32-year olds

Abstract – Objectives: To describe oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) among New Zealand adults and assess the relationship between clinical measures of oral health status and a well‐established OHRQoL measure, controlling for sex, socioeconomic status (SES) and use of dental services. Methods: A birth cohort of 924 dentate adults (participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study) was systematically examined for dental caries, tooth loss, and periodontal attachment loss (CAL) at age 32 years. OHRQoL was measured using the 14‐item Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP‐14). The questionnaire also collected data on each study member’s occupation, self‐rated oral health and reasons for seeing a dental care provider. SES was determined from each individual’s occupation at age 32 years. Results: The mean total OHIP‐14 score was 8.0 (SD 8.1); 23.4% of the cohort reported one or more OHIP problems ‘fairly often’ or ‘very often’. When the prevalence of impacts ‘fairly/very often’ was modeled using logistic regression, having untreated caries, two or more sites with CAL of 4+ mm and 1 or more teeth missing by age 32 years remained significantly associated with OHRQoL, after adjusting for sex and ‘episodic’ dental care. Multivariate analysis using Poisson regression determined that being in the low SES group was also associated with the mean number of impacts (extent) and the rated severity of impacts. Conclusions: OHIP‐14 scores were significantly associated with clinical oral health status indicators, independently of sex and socioeconomic inequalities in oral health. The prevalence of impacts (23.4%) in the cohort was significantly greater than age‐ and sex‐standardized estimates from Australia (18.2%) and the UK (15.9%).     

Factors Affecting Self-ratings of Oral Health

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of self-rated oral health to a comprehensive battery of clinical, sociodemographic, physical health, and mental health measures in a well-elderly urban population. Methods : Results are based on telephone interviews and clinical assessments of 550 subjects over 65 years of age participating in a Los Angeles-based Medicare project during 1990. Subjects were mostly female, white (89%), with above-average income. Results : Findings show that: (1) the DMF measure is not as strongly related to self-rated oral health as was a single measure of missing teeth; (2) the major predictors of self-rated oral health were "worry about teeth" and "appearance of teeth" followed by total missing teeth, race, education, and depression scores; and (3) self-rated general health is related to self-rated oral health. Conclusion : Self-rated oral health may be, for older adults, a better measure of "health" than of "morbidity."     

Follow-up of children’s oral health-related quality of life after dental general anaesthesia treatment

Objective: Our aim was to analyze longitudinally the impact of young children’s dental general anaesthesia (DGA) treatment on their OHRQoL and to determine their post-operative oral health status at the six-month follow-up together with parental ratings of their children’s oral health.

Material and methods: We conducted a prospective follow-up study of OHRQoL among Lithuanian child patients treated under general anaesthesia (n?=?144). The study consisted of clinical dental examinations performed by two examiners at the time of DGA and at the six-month recall, along with OHRQoL surveys and data collected from the patients’ files. The dmft index and Silness–Löe plaque index served as clinical measures. The survey tool for assessing the children’s OHRQoL was the previously tested Lithuanian version of the ECOHIS. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test served for the statistical analysis (p?Results: The ECOHIS scores clearly decreased post-operatively, indicating a significant (p?p?Conclusions: This longitudinal study showed a sustained improvement in the children’s OHRQoL six months after their DGA treatment. Post-operative parental ratings of their child’s oral health were higher after the DGA treatment, but the children exhibited insufficient oral hygiene and new caries lesions. An appropriate follow-up system for children receiving DGA treatment with special focus on preventive care is needed.     

Orofacial esthetics and dental anxiety: Associations with oral and psychological health

Objective. Severe dental anxiety (DA) is associated with both oral health and psychosocial consequences in what has been described as a vicious circle of DA. The aim of this study was to investigate self-rated orofacial esthetics in patients with DA and its relationship to psychological and oral health. Materials and methods. A consecutive sample of 152 adult patients who were referred or self-referred to a specialized dental anxiety clinic filled out the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES) as well as measurements on DA, self-rated oral health and general anxiety and depression. Clinical measures of dental status were also obtained. Results. Compared with the general population, patients with DA had lower ratings of satisfaction on all aspects of their orofacial esthetics, which included the teeth, gingiva, mouth and face, as well as a global orofacial assessment. Furthermore, the perception of the orofacial appearance was related both to dental status and self-rated oral health, as well as to general anxiety and depression. The level of dissatisfaction with the orofacial appearance was similar for both genders, but women reported more regular dental care and better dental status. Conclusions. The results of this study clearly show less satisfaction with dental and facial appearance in patients with DA, and that the self-rating of orofacial esthetics is related to both oral and psychological health. The OES can be used to assess orofacial esthetics in patients with DA.     

Impact of dental care on oral health-related quality of life and treatment goals among elderly adults

BACKGROUND: General dental care can effectively control disease and restore damaged tissue, yet little is known about its impact on patients' subjective oral health, namely treatment goals and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to evaluate change in both aspects of subjective oral health among elderly adults receiving publicly-funded, general dental care. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-group intervention study of adults aged 75+ years receiving care through the South Australian Dental Service (SADS). Before receiving dental care, subjects completed the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) questionnaire which evaluates OHRQoL. In this questionnaire, subjects rated the extent to which they had attained a self-nominated oral health goal. Dentists provided standard-of-care treatment and six months later the OHIP-14 and goal attainment questions were re-administered. RESULTS: Among the 253 adults studied, overall improvements in OHRQoL were observed (p < 0.05), although the effect was dependent on pre-treatment goal: mean OHIP-14 scores did not change significantly for subjects whose goal was less pain/discomfort while significant improvements were observed for subjects with other treatment goals. In contrast, mean goal attainment ratings improved significantly (P < 0.05), regardless of treatment goal categories. CONCLUSIONS: Dental care was associated with improvements in subjective oral health, although different patterns of improvement were observed for OHRQoL compared with goal attainment ratings.     

Oral health‐related quality of life in children: Part I. How well do children know themselves? A systematic review

Abstract: Objective: Paediatric oral disorders are likely to have a negative effect on the quality of life. Until recently, children’s oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured using parents as informants. Instruments have now been developed, which have demonstrated that with appropriate questionnaire techniques, valid and reliable information can be obtained from children. The aim of this study was to make a systematic review of the existing literature about child perceptions of OHRQoL and their validation. Methods: A computerized search was conducted using Medline, ISI, Lilacs and Scielo for children’s perception of OHRQoL. The inclusion criteria were: the articles should contain well‐validated instruments and provide child perceptions of OHRQoL. Results: From 89 records found, 13 fulfilled the criteria. All studies included in the critical appraisal of the project suggested good construct validity of overall child perceptions of OHRQoL. However, children’s understanding of oral health and well‐being are also affected by variables (age, age‐related experiences, gender, race, education, culture, experiences related to oral conditions, opportunities for treatment, childhood period of changes, back‐translating questionnaire, children self‐perceived treatment need). Conclusions: The structure of children’s self‐concept and health cognition is age‐dependent as a result of their continuous cognitive, emotional, social and language development. By using appropriate questionnaire techniques, valid and reliable information can be obtained from children concerning their OHRQoL.     

老年患者口腔健康生命质量的相关因素分析

目的：初步研究老年口腔疾病患者的口腔健康生命质量及其影响因素。方法：选择在中山大学光华口腔医学院门诊就诊的250名55岁以上（含55岁）的老年人，应用老年口腔健康评价指数（geriatric oral healthassessment index，GOHAI）量表中文版、一般项目表及自我口腔健康评价表对其口腔健康生命质量进行调查，通过多元回归分析得出影响口腔健康生命质量的相关因素。结果：GOHAI中文版平均得分为12．26±7．67。多元回归方程为：GOHAI中文版得分=-6．477＋0．309×自我评价的口腔健康＋0．164×缺失牙数＋0．237×对口腔状况的满意度＋0．127×对生活的满意度，方程的决定系数为0．423。结论：自我评价的口腔健康、缺失牙数、对口腔状况的满意度及对生活的满意度是影响老年患者口腔健康生命质量的主要因素。     

Utility of two oral health-related quality-of-life measures in patients with xerostomia

OBJECTIVES: The study compared the validity of the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) and Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) as measures of oral health-related quality of life in patients with xerostomia in the UK. METHODS: A cross-sectional comparison of OHIP14 and OIDP with measures of clinical indicators, xerostomia symptom status, speech function, global oral health ratings and psychological well-being, in 85 patients attending outpatient clinics. RESULTS: Both OHIP14 and OIDP had excellent internal reliability, and good criterion and construct validity when used in this population of xerostomia patients. In regression analyses, salivary gland condition and xerostomia symptom status significantly predicted oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), accounting for 29% and 14% of the variance in OHIP and OIDP scores respectively. In turn, OHRQoL predicted global ratings of oral health (26% of variance) and psychological well-being (depression) scores (15%). Sex, ethnicity and age were associated with clinical presentation and patient-reported symptoms. Clinical presentation, OHRQoL (as measured by the OIDP) and speech function were related to duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Both OHIP14 and OIDP have good psychometric properties and appear useful measures of OHRQoL in xerostomia. Overall, the OHIP14 performed better than did OIDP. For both measures, the additive scoring method may be more relevant for this population that the number of impacts.     

Demonstrating successful aging using the International Collaborative Study for Oral Health Outcomes

As the lifespan increases and people are faced with 15 to 20 years of "old age," we ask what one considers successful aging with respect to oral health. We propose a comprehensive combination of outcome variables, maintenance of teeth, manageable periodontal condition, positive perceived oral health, satisfaction with their access to and receipt of dental services, and minimal functional problems, that together comprise a definition of successful aging. The International Collaborative Study for Oral Health Outcomes provides a data set for exploring the oral health of a diverse sample of older adults in US and international sites using the modified Andersen Behavioral Model. The percent of adults who report no natural teeth ranged from 16 percent in San Antonio to 59 percent in New Zealand. Seventy percent or more of the adults from each site rated their oral health as good/fair or better except in Poland. The current cohort of older adults is faring better on some indicators than others; nevertheless, ethnic minorities and poorer countries still demonstrate inequities. Dentistry must attempt to educate individuals early in their lifespan that a combination of personal oral health practices and current dental techniques offers the potential for successful oral health throughout one's lifetime.     

Can Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life Measures Substitute for Normative Needs Assessments in 11 to 12‐year‐old Children?

OBJECTIVES: 1) assess the relationship between a measure of condition-specific oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the related normative need for dental treatments, and 2) test the diagnostic validity of the condition-specific OHRQoL measure for specific dental conditions in a group of primary school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of all 11 to 12 year-olds carried out in a municipal area of Suphanburi province, Thailand. 1034 children (91.8%) were dentally examined to assess their normative needs for 6 types of treatment (dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, enamel defects, periodontal, orthodontic and prosthodontic treatment). OHRQoL was assessed using the Child-OIDP index and its Condition-Specific impacts measure for the 6 treatment types. RESULTS: The prevalence of specific types of normative needs ranged from 3.2% (prosthodontic) to 97.0% (periodontal) and for Condition-Specific oral impacts from 0.7% (prosthodontic) to 50.6% (dental caries). Despite their statistically significant relationship for every treatment type except for periodontal treatment when need was indicated by a CPI score of 1, there were large differences between measures of normative need and oral impacts. High proportions of children had normative need without impacts and vice versa. The biggest differences were for appearance-related conditions (e.g. enamel defects and orthodontic treatment). For every type of treatment, oral impacts poorly predicted the normative needs of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Although normative needs and OHRQoL are associated, when assessed appropriately, there was considerable discrepancy between them. OHRQoL measures cannot replace normative needs. Instead, both should be used in combination in order to cover different dimensions of oral health.     

Measuring patient-based outcomes: Is treatment satisfaction associated with oral health-related quality of life?

Objectives

To evaluate the level of association between patients’ denture satisfaction and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in edentate patients, and to identify the determinants of satisfaction that best predict OHRQoL. The effects of time and treatment type were also assessed.

Methods

Data from 255 edentate elders who participated in a randomised clinical trial were used. OHRQoL ratings were gathered using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-20) questionnaire. The McGill Denture Satisfaction Instrument was used to assess satisfaction with treatment (mandibular conventional denture or implant overdenture). Outcomes were measured prior to treatment, then 6 and 12 months after delivery of the new prostheses. Simple linear and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to statistically analyse the relationship.

Results

When the combined effect of all factors was assessed, only two variables of denture satisfaction ratings were significantly associated with OHRQoL: chewing ability (P = .005) and oral condition (P = .002). These two variables explained 46.4% of the variance in the OHIP change scores. This association varied with time, but the variables of importance remained the same. Type of treatment, gender, age and other socio-demographic variables were not significantly associated with improvement in OHRQoL once their effects were combined with denture satisfaction ratings.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, a highly positive association exists between oral health-related quality of life and denture satisfaction. Chewing ability and oral condition are the determinants of denture satisfaction best associated with OHRQoL, predicting 46.4% of its improvement following a treatment.