Impact of oral conditions on the quality of life of secondary schoolchildren in Nigeria

摘要

Purpose: Oral health problems have been increasingly recognized as important factors causing a negative impact on daily performance and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of tooth extraction with no replacement, untreated fractured anterior teeth, malocclusion, dental restorations, and orthodontic braces on the quality of life in Nigerian schoolchildren. Methods: A total of 197 9- to 17-year-old schoolchildren completed the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) index/questionnaire. Results: Students who had tooth extraction with no replacement and untreated fractured incisors had significantly higher mean OHIP scores for functional limitations, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical, psychological, and social disabilities, and handicaps (P<.001) when compared to other groups and the control. The mean OHIP scores of students with features of malocclusion were significantly higher for functional limitations, psychological discomfort, and psychological disability compared to the control group (P<.001). Conclusions: Untreated dental problems had some negative impact on the quality of life on the 7 subscales of the OHIP.