Association of Periodontitis With Oral Health Related Quality of Life

The primary aim of the present study was to compare the scores of OHQoL-UK of patients with periodontitis to who didn't have periodontitis/healthy controls. Our second aim was investigate the factors (education, smoking, gender, periodontal clinical parameters) may related to oral health related quality of life).

Materials and methods Study group The present clinical study was conducted with a study group of 50 untreated periodontitis patients and a control group of 50 individuals without periodontitis (age and gender matched) who applied to Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry Department of Periodontology. Clinical examination and evaluation of patients' complaint All participants underwent comprehensive periodontal examination by a calibrated and masked examiner. probing pocket depth (PPD = distance between gingival margin and bottom of the periodontal pocket) and clinical attachment level (CAL = distance between the cement-enamel junction and bottom of the periodontal pocket) were evaluated. All periodontal measurements were recorded at six sites around each tooth by a periodontal probe excluding third molar.The patients' complaints/symptoms associated with periodontitis (gingival bleeding and edema, halitosis, flaring, mobile teeth, gingival hyperemia, bad taste, dentin/root sensitivity) were also evaluated by using Visual Analogue Scale [VAS (0-10)]. In the evaluation with VAS, a straight line of 100 mm was used on the vertical axis and the starting and ending points were numbered 0 and 100. Individuals were asked to what extent they perceived the symptoms of periodontitis and were asked to make an evaluation between 0 and 100 on the scale and to put an x mark on the scale. In the evaluation of the scale, the marking point of the patient was measured with a caliper from the beginning of the scale.

Assesment of OHRQoL OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral-Dental Health-Related Quality of Life-United Kingdom (OHRQoL-UK) scale. It consists of 4 different categories and 16 questions evaluating the effects of OHRQoL in positive and negative areas. These categories are as follows; symptoms (2 questions), physical status (5 questions), psychological status (5 questions), social status (4 questions) ' Questions on the OHRQoL-UK scale were scored using the Likert-type scale as 'very bad effect-score 1, bad effect-score 2, no effect-score 3, good effect-score 4, very good effect-score 5. The scores obtained from all questions were summed to give the scores of the 4 sub-categories separately and the total OHRQoL score. A higher total score indicates a higher OHRQoL.