Comparative Assessment of Oral Health Related Quality-Of-Life Between Rural and Urban Chronic Periodontitis Patients.

Abstract

Introduction: Periodontal diseases are the outcomes of inflammatory infections, which lead to destruction of teeth supporting structures and bone resorption, further leading to pocket formation and recession and negatively influence people’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The impact on OHRQoL of periodontalconditions has been investigated lesser as compared to other oral problems. Therefore, a better understanding of subjective evaluation or perceptionregarding the impact of the diseases is needed, which would ensure atreatment plan that fits the patients’ need and concern.

Materials And Method: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among rural (50) and urban (50) population having age range between 35 and 44 years chosen from the outpatient department of a private dental college.  The OHIP-14 was used for assessing OHRQoL and for recording of the oral-health status; WHO modified2013 proforma was utilized. Chi-square, Student’s t-test and multiple logistic regression analysis were employed for statisticalanalysis.

Result: The prevalence ofLOA (94.0%), bleeding (76.0%) and pocket (78.0%) was significantly higher in the rural population as compared to urban. There was a positive correlation between gingival bleeding and presence of pockets with the mean OHIP scores. As the mean number of teethwith the gingival bleeding and pockets increased there was increase in themean OHIP scores both in the urban and rural population.

Conclusion: The present study shows that there is a significant association between periodontal status and OHRQoL. Rural subjects had greater impact on OHRQoL than their urban counterpart. Hence there is a need for development of strategies and policies to eradicate disparities and to promote oral health status.