Munir Khan.
Missing teeth, edentulous areas and socio-demographic status adversely affect the quality of life.
J Pak Dent Assoc Jan ;19(1):005-14.

OBJECTIVE: To explore, in local subjects, the effect, on oral-health-impact-profile (OHIP) scores, of missing teeth, edentulous areas and some socio-demographic factors. METHODOLOGY: During the period from June to November 2007, a cross-sectional study involving 243 partially dentate subjects was conducted at Khyber College of Dentistry, Peshawar (Pakistan). With the method of interviewing and clinical examination and using a 33-OHIP-statements sheet, OHIP scores for subjects were determined. Sociodemographic as well as data for the number of missing teeth and edentulous areas were also recorded. RESULTS: OHIP scores were positively correlated with the number of missing teeth (r = 0.29) and the number of edentulous spaces (r = 0.37). Subject's age and socio-economic status were more important co-variables influencing OHIP scores as compared to gender and educational level. Generally, higher OHIP scores were recorded for subjects who had anterior edentulous spaces, distal extension spaces or multiple and larger bounded spaces. Also much higher scores were recorded in those having bounded and distal extension spaces in addition to anterior spaces. OHIP statements with high scores as an indication of adversely affecting QoL were those related to the function of chewing and esthetics. Some OHIP-statements that had been tested in other countries were found un-important for determining oral-health-related-quality-of-life (OHRQoL) in the present subjects. CONCLUSION: With their varying influence, missing teeth, edentulous spaces, age and socio-economic status proved important variables influencing both the OHIP scores and OHRQoL.

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