Oral health and quality of life: an epidemiological survey of adolescents from settlement in Pontal do Paranapanema/SP,Brazil

Abstract

This study aimed to verify oral health, treatment needs, dental service accessibility, and impact of oral health on quality of life (QL) of subjects from settlement in Pontal do Paranapanema/SP, Brazil. In this epidemiological survey, 180 10-to 19- years old adolescents enrolled in the school that attend this population in settlement underwent oral examination, to verify caries index (DMFT- decayed, missing and filled teeth) and periodontal condition (CPI), and were interviewed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) and Oral Impact Daily Performance (OIDP) instruments to evaluate QL, and the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) about dental service accessibility. DMFT average was 5.49 (+/- 3.33). Overall, 37.2% of participants showed periodontal problems, mainly CPI = 1 (77.7%). Treatment needs were mainly restorations. GSHS showed that the last dental consultation occurred > 1 year previously for 58.3% of participants at a public health center (78.9%). The average WHOQOL-Bref was 87.59 (+/- 15.23). Social relationships were related to dental caries and health service type. The average OIDP was 6.49 (+/- 9.15). The prevalence of caries was high and observed periodontal problems were reversible. The social relationships of adolescents from settlement were influenced by caries and health services type.