The impact of caries in combination with periodontitis on oral health-related quality of life in Bahia, Brazil

Background: Both dental caries and periodontal disease, as isolated conditions, can generate limitations and disabilities with negative repercussions on the individual's quality of life, but the combination of both oral diseases has not been investigated yet. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the combined exposure to dental caries and periodontitis and the impact on oral health-related quality of life.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 306 individuals seen in the public health services in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. The individuals were divided into three groups: individuals without caries and periodontitis (n = 60), those with caries or periodontitis separately (n = 155), and those with both caries and periodontitis (n = 91). Information regarding sociodemographic, health conditions, behavioral aspects, and health-care characteristics were obtained through structured questionnaires. Oral clinical examination was performed to evaluate dental caries (decayed, missing, and filled teeth DMFT) and periodontal status including bleeding on probing, visible plaque index, probing depth, and clinical attachment level. The impact of oral health on quality of life was measured using the Brazilian version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14).

Results: In terms of the OHIP-14, the mean ±SD and median of the severity scores were 11.07 ±9.45 and 9, respectively, and mean ±SD of the extension score: 1.78 ±2.27. The adjusted association measurement showed that in individuals exposed simultaneously to caries and periodontitis, the occurrence of the impact on quality of life was 63% greater than among those without these diseases.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the combined occurrence of dental caries and periodontitis is associated with a significant impact on oral health-related quality of life when compared with absence of these oral diseases.