Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Periodontal disease and quality of life in British adults
Eduardo Bernabé1, Wagner Marcenes
1Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK. e.bernabe@qmul.ac.uk
Aim:
To explore the association between periodontal disease and quality of life in British adults, independently of demographic factors, socioeconomic position and other common oral conditions.
Materials And Methods:
This is a cross-sectional study of 3122 dentate adults who participated in the 1998 Adult Dental Health Survey in the United Kingdom. The short-form oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) was used to assess oral health-related quality of life. Periodontal disease was defined as having at least two proximal sites with loss of attachment 4mm and one proximal site with pocket depth 4mm, not necessarily on the same tooth. The association between periodontal disease and the OHIP-14 score was assessed in unadjusted, partially adjusted and fully adjusted models.
Results:
Periodontal disease was associated with the OHIP-14 score (rate ratio: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.16-1.38), even after adjustment for demographic factors (sex, age and English region or country), socioeconomic position (educational attainment and household income) and clinical conditions (number of teeth, partial denture use, dental caries, traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear).
Conclusion:
Periodontal disease was associated with quality of life, independent of socio-demographic characteristics and other conditions present in the mouth.
Related Concept Videos
The Oral Microbiota
Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin and...
Assessment of the Mouth
Mouth Inspection
The inspection begins with visually examining the mouth for symmetry, color, and size.
Lifestyle Factors and Health
Benefits of Physical Activity
Physical activity, whether through structured exercise or casual activities like walking, biking, or dancing, is a cornerstone of a...
Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or grinding food.