Associations between Life Satisfactions and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

Objectives: To determine the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and to assess the association between life satisfaction and OHRQoL. Method: A cross sectional survey was conducted on 1583 adolescents aged 16 years, attending secondary schools in Selangor, Malaysia. OHRQoL was measured by using the Malaysian adapted short version of OHIP which consists of 14 items. Six global health questions were used to measure life satisfaction among adolescents. A composite OHIP score was computed by adding up the response options. A high score indicates better OHRQoL. Results: Overall, 33% of the respondents who experienced at least one impact reported as either “very often' or “often”. “Being uncomfortable due to food getting stuck in the teeth” (16.2%) and “oral ulcers” (7.1%) were the two most common oral health impacts affecting the quality of life among the adolescents. Higher OHIP score was seen among adolescents who were satisfied with their overall quality of life [mean= 62.21, s.d 4.76] and comfortable with self [mean= 62.39, s.d 4.61]. Multiple regression analysis revealed that being comfortable with self, satisfaction with quality of life and ethnicity were associated with oral health related quality of life among the adolescents. Conclusion: Oral conditions do affect the quality of life in a significant number of adolescents. Adolescents who are satisfied with their quality of life” and “comfortable with self” portray a better oral health related quality of life.