Radiographically screened periodontitis is associated with deteriorated oral-health quality of life: A cross-sectional study

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 10;17(6):e0269934. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269934. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Periodontitis is greatly related to worse perceived oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), yet this association has never been explored using radiographically screened periodontal bone loss. Here we have radiographically screened patients for periodontitis via a validated method and assessed its association with measures of OHRQoL. From a total of 10,267 participants (6,112 females and 4,155 males), self-reported general health questionnaire, body mass index, self-reported oral health behaviours, panoramic x-rays and the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) were gathered. Radiographically screened periodontitis was measured through a radiographic-based periodontal bone loss (R-PBL) approach. We compared the respective variables according to the R-PBL status and explored using multiple logistic regression adjusted for the significant variables. Overall, patients with periodontitis shown significantly different sociodemographic, health measures and oral hygiene characteristics. All domains of the OHIP-14 were significantly worsened in the periodontitis group, and further confirmed through adjusted logistic regression (p<0.001). Active smoking, number of missing teeth, sex and age were the most impactful variables in this relationship. Our results demonstrate the existence of a link between radiographically screened periodontitis and OHRQoL, mostly upheld by active smoking, number of missing teeth, sex and age.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alveolar Bone Loss* / diagnostic imaging
  • Anodontia*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oral Health
  • Periodontitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Periodontitis* / epidemiology
  • Quality of Life
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tooth Loss*

Grants and funding

This work received specific funding for open access fees from the Portuguese Government, under the UIDB/04585/2020 grant. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. None of the authors received a salary from the funder.