Dental Caries, Tooth Loss and Quality of Life of Individuals Exposed to Social Risk Factors in Northeast Brazil

Luísa Simões de Albuquerque, Raiana Gurgel de Queiroz, Jenny Abanto, Marcelo José Strazzeri Bönecker, Franklin Delano Soares Forte and Fábio Correia Sampaio ()
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Luísa Simões de Albuquerque: Department of Clinical and Community Dentistry, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Raiana Gurgel de Queiroz: Department of Clinical and Community Dentistry, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Jenny Abanto: Internacional University of Catalunya, Catalunya, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
Marcelo José Strazzeri Bönecker: Faculty of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-220, SP, Brazil
Franklin Delano Soares Forte: Department of Clinical and Community Dentistry, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil
Fábio Correia Sampaio: Department of Clinical and Community Dentistry, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa 58051-900, PB, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 17, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the impact of dental caries and tooth loss on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in socioeconomically disadvantaged people. A population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 28 cities at social risk in Northeast Brazil. All permanent residents aged 12, 15–19, 35–44, and 65–74 years were eligible, and 3063 were included. Participants answered a questionnaire on socioeconomic status, beliefs, and behaviors. Trained local dentists performed oral clinical examinations during home visits. Caries and tooth loss were evaluated using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and OHRQoL was evaluated using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Poisson regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between individual domains, OHIP-14 scores, dental caries, tooth loss, and socioeconomic/demographic characteristics. Mean DMFT (standard deviation) scores were 2.68 (4.01), 4.84 (4.30), 15.35 (7.26), and 26.72 (8.03) for groups aged 12, 15–19, 35–44, and 65–74 years, respectively. Most participants (70%) were partially edentulous and 13% were completely edentulous. Caries and tooth loss significantly increased with age and impacted OHRQoL. Physical pain (5.8%) and psychological discomfort (5.8%) were the most commonly reported on the OHIP-14. Untreated caries (prevalence ratio (PR), 1.54; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.37–1.72) and edentulism (PR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.08–1.53) had a significant negative impact on OHRQoL. Income, level of education, sex, age, and oral hygiene habits were also related to OHRQoL. There was a high prevalence of dental caries and edentulism in all age groups except 12-year-olds. OHRQoL was negatively impacted by these oral conditions across the lifespan, with a trend towards more negative scores and higher impact in older adults.

Keywords: dental health survey; dental caries; tooth loss; edentulous; socioeconomic factors; oral health-related quality of life (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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