Associations between periodontal inflammation and OHIP-14 scores: A cross-sectional study

More evidence is needed to assess the association between periodontitis and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) quantitatively. We hypothesized that periodontal inflammation is correlated with a worsening in quality of life and aimed to test this in this study.

A total of 1307 participants in King's Oral Biobank answered the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire (measurement of OHRQoL) during a dental visit. The associations between periodontal inflammation, measured as periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and bleeding on probing (BOP), periodontal conditions (diagnosis/staging), and OHIP-14 scores across all seven domains (functional limitation, physical pain, psychological discomfort, physical disability, psychological disability, social disability, and handicap) were investigated.

The PISA exhibited weak linear correlations with the overall OHIP-14 score (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.06, p = 0.037), particularly with the "physical pain" subdomain (r = 0.12, p < 0.001). BOP was associated with the OHIP overall score (r = 0.08, p = 0.022). In addition, stage IV periodontitis was associated with higher OHIP-14 total scores and with multiple subdomains, including physical pain, physical disability and psychological discomfort.

Inflammation indices such as BOP and PISA are associated with worse OHRQoL. In addition, the complex clinical features of stage IV periodontitis may worsen OHRQoL, especially in relation to physical pain, physical disability and psychological discomfort.

This study shows that having more advanced gum disease (stage IV) and gum inflammation may worsen quality of life.