Geriatric Patients’ Oral Quality of Life and Oral Health Status

Objectives: Examine geriatric patients’ oral quality of life (QoL) at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) (as measured by the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI)) and oral health status (as measured by periodontal status, number of missing teeth, presence of decay, and presence of restorations).
Methods: 35 senior citizens (aged ≥65) at TUSDM were consented for participation. GOHAI questionnaire and demographic information was collected. Periodontal status and dental health records were reviewed for dental status. Descriptive statistics were reported. Kruskal-Wallis tests and Spearman correlations were calculated. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. STATA13 was used for statistical analyses.
Results: The 35 subjects included 19 females and 16 males; 33 White/Caucasian subjects, 1 Black/African American subject, and 1 Asian subject. Scoring of GOHAI was on a scale of 0-60 (lower numbers corresponding to a better oral QoL). The GOHAI median score = 18 (range 9-34). Five subjects had clinical periodontal health with a median GOHAI score= 18 and IQR =2.00. Thirteen subjects had gingivitis with a median GOHAI score=16 and IQR=9.00. Seventeen subjects had periodontitis with a median GOHAI score=19 and IQR=8.00. Periodontal status compared to GOHAI had P-value=0.163. GOHAI compared to number of previously filled teeth had P-value= 0.006. GOHAI compared to previously filled teeth was negatively correlated with subjects with fewer previously restored teeth having lower GOHAI scores. GOHAI compared to number of decayed teeth had P-value=0.302. GOHAI compared to number of missing teeth had P-value=0.546.
Conclusions: This study showed subjects who had fewer previously filled teeth reported statistically significantly lower GOHAI scores in senior citizen patients presenting at TUSDM. There was insufficient evidence that periodontal status was associated with the GOHAI score. No statistical significant evidence was found to support an association between GOHAI and either number of decayed teeth or number of missing teeth.