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Updated: Jun 1, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
[Quality of life related to oral health among addicts]
A J van Wijk1, G H W Verrips, J M Kieffer
1Afdeling Sociale tandheelkunde en Gedragswetenschappen van het Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam. a.vwijk@acta.nl
Abstract:
In this study, the impact of oral health on the daily functioning of a group of individuals addicted to alcohol and/or drugs that were being treated at a centre for specialized dentistry in Amsterdam was investigated. Every new patient who reported to the clinic received the OHIP-14-questionnaire at home by post with the request that it be filled in and returned. A total of 110 usable questionnaires were returned (response 27.5%). The average OHIP-score (40.6; standard deviation 12.9) can be termed substantial when compared to other patient groups. On the subcategories 'physical pain', 'psychological discomfort' and 'psychological disability; the patients scored highest, and on the subcategory functional limitations' the lowest. The poor oral health of the patient group studied has a substantial impact on daily functioning. These baseline results will be used for measuring the effect of dental health treatment at this centre for specialized dentisty.
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