Validation of an Arabic version of the short form of the health literacy in dentistry scale: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The Arabic version of the short form of the Health Literacy in Dentistry scale (HeLD) had not yet been developed in previously published studies. This study aims to test the reliability and validity of an Arabic version of the short form of the HeLD questionnaire. METHODS: The short version of HeLD was translated into Arabic and the psychometric properties were evaluated in a sample of 1,889 female students in their first year of secondary school. Test-retest reliability was assessed using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Content validity was investigated by creating a correlation matrix between the individual items of the HeLD-14, and criterion validity was determined using Pearson's correlation between the HeLD-14 score and an overall oral health rating. Sensitivity analysis was assessed by testing the associations of the HeLD-14 score with oral health-related behaviours and residential area. RESULTS: The Arabic version of HeLD-14 (A-HeLD-14) had acceptable ICC (0.54) and excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: 0.92). The correlations between the items of the A-HeLD-14 varied from 0.3 to 0.9. The A-HeLD-14 showed a statistically significant correlation with the overall oral health rating (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). The median A-HeLD-14 score was significantly higher in participants who brushed their teeth frequently (51.31), visited the dentist regularly (52.00), consumed fresh fruit frequently (51) and consumed soda or energy drinks infrequently (51.00) than participants who brushed their teeth infrequently (41.50), visited the dentist irregularly (49.00), consumed fresh fruit infrequently (47) and consumed soda or energy drinks frequently (48.00). CONCLUSION: The A-HeLD-14 instrument demonstrates sufficient validity, reliability, and sensitivity for measuring oral health literacy among the Arabic-speaking population.

Health status, care dependency and oral care utilization among older adults: a register-based study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine oral care utilisation among older Danes and to describe the extent to which oral care use is associated with the co-existence of challenges relating to general health and care dependency. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study used registry data covering the entire population of older adults (≥65 years) in seven municipalities in Denmark (N = 178 787 individuals). Oral care services utilisation was computed from administrative data on oral care contacts up to and including 2019, including both private oral care and a municipal oral care programme (MOCP). Various registry data sources were used to compute risk factors to describe oral care utilisation across indicators of general health and care dependency. RESULTS: Indicators for poorer health were associated with larger proportions of individuals enrolled in the MOCPs and larger proportions of non-users of any type of oral care. Higher degrees of care dependency were associated with larger proportions of individuals enrolled in MOCPs and individuals with no use of any oral care services, with the exception of nursing home residents, who comprised a lower proportion of non-users than individuals receiving at-home care. Municipal oral care mainly enrolled older adults who were nursing home residents (60% of nursing home residents were enrolled). CONCLUSION: Our findings support existing evidence on the link between oral care utilisation and general health and frailty. While the municipal care programmes assisted in covering oral care for those with the highest level of care dependency, future preventive strategies for ensuring care continuity for older adults that are increasing in frailty may want to focus on the earlier stages of frailty and of general health deterioration.

A cross-sectional study on oral health-care habits and oral-health-related quality-of-life in marginalized persons in Copenhagen.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the oral-health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) and oral health-care habits in a population of marginalized persons in Copenhagen. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients attending a dental clinic for marginalized persons filled in the 14-item version of the oral-health-impact profile (OHIP-14) regarding their OHRQoL and a questionnaire on their oral health-care habits. Age, gender, smoking habits, need for general and oral health-care, and living conditions were further registered. RESULTS: Of the 212 participants, 72% had not visited a dental clinic within the past two years and in 68% of the cases, the last dental visit was related to dental treatment. Tooth brushing at least once a day was reported by 93%. The mean OHIP-14 score in the participants was 24.9 (SD: 13.6). The most frequent problems were pain, chewing difficulties, being self-conscious, tense, and embarrassed as well as affected life. The mean OHIP-14 score was significantly higher in participants in need of general health-care (29.5, SD: 12.2) than in participants not in need of general health-care (22.8, SD: 13.9). The same applied to participants referred for dental treatment (26.1, SD: 12.7) compared to participants not being referred (20.2, SD: 15.9). CONCLUSIONS: The OHRQoL is poor in the population with pain, chewing difficulties and aesthetic issues as the most prominent problems. The participants had low and treatment-oriented use of the dental care system. This indicates a high need for dental care in the population with a focus on including them in the dental care system.

Utilization of a public subsidy scheme for dental care services among socially vulnerable citizens out of labor in Copenhagen, Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: Addressing social inequality in oral health and access to dental care is a global concern. This study aims to describe the utilization of a public subsidy scheme targeting vulnerable individuals out of labor in Copenhagen municipality (2013-2018) and to identify key characteristics of individuals eligible to apply. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from Copenhagen municipality were combined with data from population and health registers. Employing logistic regression analyses, we examined the association between demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics and (1) having applied, (2) being granted, and (3) using the subsidy. RESULTS: The study included 65,174 individuals aged 18-65. Of these 10,369 (15.9%) applied for subsidies, submitting a total of 18,529 applications. Overall, 83% of the applications were granted and 85% were used. Significantly increased odds of applying for subsidies were observed among individuals receiving social benefits non-stop over the past year versus none (odds ratio [OR] = 15.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 14.24-16.76), aged 50-65 versus 18-29 years (OR = 4.41, CI = 4.15-4.69), and having combined indicators of social vulnerability versus none (OR = 2.90, CI = 2.73-3.07). CONCLUSIONS: While the utilization of the public subsidy scheme is low, individuals who apply are likely to be granted a subsidy and use it. Vulnerability was associated with greater utilization of the scheme, yet a substantial portion of those at risk of poor oral health did not take advantage of it.

Effect of oral health interventions for dependent older people-A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing proportion of older people in the population worldwide, with a large group being dependent on the care of others. Dependent older people are more vulnerable to oral diseases, which can heavily impact their quality of life (OHRQoL) and general health. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to comprehensively assess interventions to improve oral health or guarantee access and adherence to dental treatment of dependent older people. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and clinical trial registries. Two reviewers performed the selection, data extraction, risk of bias evaluation using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and assessment of certainty of the evidence. When possible, we conducted a meta-analysis to calculate effect estimates and their 95%CIs. Primary outcomes were OHRQoL, oral/dental health, and use of the oral care system. RESULTS: We included a total of 30 randomised clinical trials assessing educational and non-educational interventions for community-dwelling older people (n = 2) and those residing in long-term care facilities (n = 28). Most studies assessed oral hygiene and showed that interventions may result in a reduction in dental plaque in the short term (with low certainty of evidence), but there is limited evidence for long-term effectiveness. Only one study assessed OHRQoL, and none evaluated changes in the use of the oral health care system. CONCLUSION: Our findings do not provide strong conclusions in favour of any specific intervention, mainly due to study quality and imprecision. There is limited information about the long-term effect of interventions, and further research is needed, especially targeting community-dwelling older people. PROSPERO ID: CRD42021231721.

Orofacial function and temporomandibular disorders in Parkinson's Disease: a case-controlled study.

BACKGROUND: The difficulties and challenges faced by people with Parkinson's disease (PD) in performing daily orofacial function are not systematically investigated. In this study, specific orofacial non-motor and motor symptoms and functions were systematically examined in PD patients in comparison to a matched control group. METHODS: The clinical case-controlled study was conducted from May 2021 to October 2022 and included persons with PD and age- and gender-matched persons without PD. The participants with PD were outpatients diagnosed with PD at the Department of Neurology at Bispebjerg University Hospital in Copenhagen, Denmark. The participants underwent a systematic clinical and relevant self-assessment of the orofacial function and temporomandibular disorders (TMD). The primary outcomes were objective and subjective assessments of the general orofacial function, mastication, swallowing, xerostomia and drooling. The secondary outcomes were the prevalence of TMD and orofacial pain. The difference in outcome measures between the two groups was analysed using chi-square and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The study included 20 persons with PD and 20 age- and gender-matched persons without PD. Both objectively and subjectively, persons with PD had poorer orofacial function than the control group. Persons with PD had also a significantly more severe limitation of jaw mobility and jaw function. The objective masticatory function was also significantly reduced for persons with PD compared to the control group, and 60% of persons with PD found it difficult to eat foods with certain consistencies while 0% of the control group reported that problem. Persons with PD could swallow less water per second and the average swallowing event was significantly longer for PD persons. Even though PD persons reported more xerostomia (58% for persons with PD and 20% for control persons), they also reported significantly more drooling than the control group. Additionally, orofacial pain was more prevalent in PD persons. CONCLUSIONS: Persons with PD have a compromised orofacial function. Furthermore, the study indicates a link between PD and orofacial pain. In order to screen and treat persons with PD accordingly, healthcare professionals should be aware of and address these limitations and symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was approved by the Regional Committee on Research Health Ethics of the Capital Region (H-20,047,464), the Danish Data Protection Agency (514 - 0510/20-3000), and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05356845).

Dental care utilization among persons with Parkinson's disease in Denmark.

OBJECTIVES: Persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) have a higher prevalence of oral diseases and orofacial dysfunction, but knowledge about the use of dental care and whether their dental care needs are met is sparse. This study aimed to investigate the dental attendance and usage of dental care services of the total PD population in Denmark and compare it with a control group. METHODS: National registers were used to identify the total PD population in Denmark (n = 6874) and to obtain data on their dental care from 2015 to 2019. These data were compared with a five-fold age-, gender- and geographically matched control group without PD (n = 34 285). Register data on age, gender, civil status, educational level, income, nursing homes status and mortality were also collected and adjusted for in the analyses. The dental attendance was analysed using χ2 -test with Bonferroni correction, and the type of dental care services was analysed using negative binomial regression analysis. RESULTS: A significantly higher proportion of persons with PD were irregular attenders of the dental care system (21.0%), compared with the control group (16.9%). Persons with PD had a significantly higher overall usage of dental cares services. Most prominent was the high usage of treatment services, where persons with PD had a 1.50 times higher incidence rate of tooth extractions and a 1.71 times higher incidence rate of tooth fillings in the five years compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Persons with PD are more often irregular users of dental care and receive more treatment services than the control group. This indicates a need for high-quality prophylactic initiatives to prevent high filling and tooth extraction rates. Furthermore, this knowledge can be used by clinicians and decision makers to ensure optimal dental care for persons with PD.

Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on dental practices in Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the patient flow and economy as experienced by dental practices in Denmark. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey regarding experience of patient flow, economical turnover, financial strain and willingness to pay for large treatments during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic (March 2020 to March 2021), along with information on the characteristics of the practice (specialist practice, ownership, practice operation and size) was distributed to all dental practices in Denmark in March 2021. RESULTS: Of the 1728 practices, 581 (33.6%) answered the survey. A decline in patient flow and a decline in economical turnover were reported by 79% and 84.4% of the practices, respectively. Financial strain was reported by 15.8% and an increased willingness to pay for large treatments was reported by 32.1%. A large decline in turnover and financial strain were associated with non-specialized practices, practices with a single owner and small practices. Logistic regressions showed that practices not receiving referrals had an odds ratio of 2.34 (CI: 1.32-4.14) for having a large decline in economic turnover compared with practices receiving referrals and that small practices had an odds ratio of 1.92 (CI: 1.16-3.19) for reporting financial strain compared with large practices. CONCLUSIONS: Reportedly, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a decline in both patient flow and economical turnover in Danish dental practices. Large and more specialized practices seem to have managed the economic crisis better.

Effect of orofacial physiotherapeutic and hygiene interventions on oral health-related quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease: A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) has a negative effect on oral health and orofacial function, but the subjective experience of orofacial symptoms and their impact on the quality of life is not fully investigated. In addition, knowledge of how to improve the subjective oral symptoms is lacking. OBJECTIVES: To assess the self-reported orofacial function and oral health in patients with PD. Furthermore, to investigate the effect of interventions for improvement of oral hygiene and function on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). METHODS: A randomised controlled study with delayed intervention was conducted in 29 patients with moderate to advanced PD. Patients were instructed in a standardised exercise programme for the jaw and orofacial muscles and given an individualised oral hygiene programme. The effect on self-reported orofacial function and OHRQoL was measured after 2 and 4 months using the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S), the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14), self-reported drooling score and subjective mastication ability. RESULTS: Self-reported oral health and function before the intervention was significantly correlated to the severity and duration of PD. The NOT-S and drooling score were significantly improved by the interventions after 2 months and the OHIP-14 after 4 months. CONCLUSION: The interventions improve the self-reported orofacial function and OHRQoL. These simple interventions can be implemented in the allied multidisciplinary health care surrounding the PD patient.

Patients' and health professionals' experience of the Danish fast track treatment pathway for head and neck cancer patients receiving oral rehabilitation.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the responsiveness of the Danish treatment pathway for head-and-neck-cancer (HNC) patients receiving oral rehabilitation.Material and Methods: Eighteen HNC-patients who had received oral rehabilitation as well as five medical and four oral health care professionals involved in the treatment of HNC-patients filled in a questionnaire on responsiveness. The responsiveness was further described in individual interviews in the HNC-patients and focus group interviews in the health care professionals. All interviews were semi-structured and analysed using the grounded theory.Results: Patients and health care professionals overall reported good responsiveness of the pathway. Prompt attention was in both groups considered the most important aspect, although the patients found it difficult to cope mentally with the fast-track and the health care professionals reported insufficiencies giving prompt attention. The patients in general described a good relationship with their health care professionals, but along with the health care professionals also reported some problems regarding communication. Further, the health care professionals reported a gap between medical treatment and oral rehabilitation.Conclusions: The Danish treatment pathway for HNC-patients was, in general, evaluated positively. Communication and relationship between patient and health care professional can affect the responsiveness of the pathway.

Associations between tooth loss, prostheses and self-reported oral health, general health, socioeconomic position and satisfaction with life.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the location of tooth loss and prosthesis are associated with self-reported oral health, general health, socioeconomic position and satisfaction with life. METHODS: From the Copenhagen Aging and Midlife Biobank (CAMB) investigation, 1517 persons had their oral status ranked (full dentition, fixed prosthesis in the masticatory zone, tooth loss in the masticatory zone, fixed prosthesis in the aesthetic zone, removable prosthesis, tooth loss in the aesthetic zone). Self-reported oral health, general health, socioeconomic position and satisfaction with life were obtained. Information on gender, normative socioeconomic position, frequency of seeing a dentist, acute dental treatment within the last 5 years and general diseases was also recorded. RESULTS: Patients with tooth loss in the aesthetic zone and removable prosthesis showed high odds ratios for reporting poor rather than good oral health compared to patients having a full dentition. Having a removable prosthesis was further associated with rating socioeconomic position as low rather than high (odds ratio = 27.7 [95% CI: 5.07; 151.6]) compared to a full dentition after controlling for normative socioeconomic position and gender. In the bivariate analyses, a tendency towards poorer general health and poorer satisfaction with life was found with worse oral status, meanwhile the multiple regression analyses did not show significant associations between oral status and general health and satisfaction with life. CONCLUSIONS: Missing teeth and having prostheses are associated with worse self-reported oral health compared to having a full dentition. Removable dental prosthesis may be associated with a worse self-perception of socioeconomic status.

Oral health-related quality of life, oral aesthetics and oral function in head and neck cancer patients after oral rehabilitation.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is diagnosed in more than 500 000 patients every year worldwide with increasing prevalence. Oral rehabilitation is often needed after HNC treatment to regain oral function, aesthetics and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). The objectives were to evaluate OHRQoL, oral aesthetics and oral function after oral rehabilitation in HNC patients and compare it to that of non-HNC patients. Eighteen patients treated for HNC who subsequently had oral rehabilitation (2014-2017), and a control group of eighteen age- and gender-matched non-HNC patients treated with removable prostheses (2014-2018) were included in a cross-sectional study. The OHRQoL was assessed by the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 questionnaire (OHIP-49), the oral aesthetics by the Prosthetic Esthetic Index (PEI) and the Orofacial Esthetic Scale (OES), and the oral function by the Nordic Orofacial Test-Screening (NOT-S). The HNC patients had worse oral function and OHRQoL than the control patients (mean NOT-S score 4.56 vs 0.56, P < 0.01 and mean OHIP-49 score 42.50 vs 20.94, P = 0.050). When including number of replaced teeth and type of prosthesis in the tests, no significant difference in OHRQoL was found between the groups. No difference was found in the overall aesthetic outcomes (mean PEI total score 32.28 vs 30.67, P = 0.367 and mean OES total score 48.78 vs 53.56, P = 0.321). Multiple regression analyses showed that being HNC patient compared to control patient impaired the oral function. Oral function is significantly impaired in HNC patients compared to non-HNC patients after oral rehabilitation.

Patient-reported effect of oral rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the patient-reported effect of oral rehabilitation and investigate aspects associated with this. METHODS: The patient-reported effect in participants treated with fixed dental prosthesis (FDP; n = 72) or removable dental prosthesis (RDP; n = 58) was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP-14) and global oral ratings (GOR) of aesthetics, chewing and comfort before and after treatment and global transition judgements (GTJ) of aesthetics, chewing and comfort after treatment. Explanatory variables included gender, age, if a prosthetic replacement was present before treatment, type of prosthetic treatment performed, number of teeth replaced and zone of the teeth replaced. RESULTS: The RDP and FDP treatments both significantly improved the OHIP-14 score with a moderate to large effect and most participants had good patient-reported effect. The effect varied depending on the method used. In the bivariate analyses, the number of participants with good effect was higher in the RDP group than the FDP group when using the OHIP-14 and GOR whereas the effect was higher in the FDP group when using the GTJ. Multiple regression analyses showed that poor chewing ability before treatment was associated with good effect measured by the OHIP-14 and GOR and that poor effect in chewing ability and RDP treatment was associated with poor effect in comfort measured by GTJ. Functional problems after treatment were associated with no/poor effect. CONCLUSIONS: Oral rehabilitation with fixed or removable prostheses in general yields good patient-reported effect. Masticatory aspects highly influence the patient-reported effect and treatment with RDP is associated with poor effect in oral comfort.

Responsiveness of the Prosthetic Esthetic Scale.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the responsiveness of the Prosthetic Esthetic Index (PEI) in a population who received prosthetic replacements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-seven patients who received prosthetic replacement of at least one tooth by means of fixed or removable prosthesis were professionally esthetically evaluated using the PEI and the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI) before and after treatment. The participants further evaluated their oral esthetics using the Oral Health Impact Profile Aesthetic (OHIP-Aes) and Orofacial Esthetic Index (OES). Responsiveness was determined by calculating effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM) of the change in PEI score, testing the change in PEI score in different subgroups, and correlating the change in PEI score with the change in OHIP-Aes and OES scores. The change in PEI score was compared to the change in DAI score. RESULTS: The ES and SRM were large for the change in PEI score. Patients having anterior teeth replaced had a larger improvement in PEI score compared to participants not having anterior teeth replaced. The change in PEI score was moderately but significantly correlated to the change in OHIP-Aes and OES scores. The PEI was more consistent in responsiveness than the DAI. CONCLUSIONS: The PEI shows sufficient responsiveness for use in longitudinal studies and for use as a follow-up measure in clinical practice. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The PEI can in a standardized manner monitor and document esthetic improvements and problems as seen by the dentist in clinical practice.

Oral health-related quality of life in socially endangered persons in Copenhagen, Denmark.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to investigate and describe the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in a socially endangered group of people and to compare the OHRQoL to other patient groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: About 294 socially endangered persons attending a volunteer clinic in Copenhagen Denmark filled in the OHIP-14 questionnaire. The group was compared in mean score and reported problems to a group of patients with tooth loss and about to have a removable dental prosthesis (RDP), a group with tooth loss about to have a fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) and a control group without tooth loss. RESULTS: Significantly higher OHIP-14 score was seen in the socially endangered group (15.5 (SD 12.6)) compared with the control (1.9 (SD 2.7)) and the FDP group (9.4 (SD 8.2)) but not the RDP group (13.1 (SD 10.5)). This difference was not changed after stratifying in age groups. Problems related to psychological disability, social disability, and handicap were more frequent in the social endangered group than for the other groups. The items pain, tense, diet, relax, life, and function stand out as problems in the socially endangered group compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: The OHRQoL is highly impaired in the socially endangered persons and at least to the level of persons with great tooth loss about to have an RDP. The problems seem to be more handicapping in the socially endangered compared with other patient groups known to have high impairment.

Influence of negative affectivity and self-esteem on the oral health related quality of life in patients receiving oral rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate if and how the personality traits Negative Affectivity (NA) and self-esteem influenced the Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in patients receiving oral rehabilitation. METHODS: OHRQoL was measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP-49), NA with a short form of the Eysenck Personality Inventory Questionnaire (EPI-Q), and self-esteem with Rosenbergs Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) in 66 patients treated with removable dental prosthesis (RDP). The minimally important difference (MID), effect size (ES), and standard error of the measurement (SEM) were used to clinically interpret the patient-reported effect. RESULTS: The OHIP-49 score was significantly higher and exceeded the MID pre- and post-treatment in participants with high EPI-Q and low RSES score compared to participants with low EPI-Q and high RSES score. The improvement in OHIP-49 score was significant and not limited by high EPI-Q and low RSES score. High EPI-Q score was associated high improvement in OHIP-49 score and the ES of the improvement in participants with high EPI-Q was large and exceeded the MID and SEM. CONCLUSION: Treatment with RDP improves the OHRQoL regardless of level of NA and self-esteem. High NA is associated with a large effect, but both high NA and low self-esteem is associated with poorer OHRQoL both before and after treatment.

Oral health-related quality-of-life in patients to be treated with fixed or removable partial dental prostheses.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to measure and describe the Oral Health-Related Quality-of-Life (OHRQoL) in a population about to receive removable dental prostheses (RDP) or fixed dental prostheses (FDP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP-49) was completed by 410 patients about to receive treatment with either RDP or FDP. Objective variables were: gender, age, number of teeth, type of replacement planned (FDP/RDP) and location (one jaw or both) and zone (aesthetic/masticatory/both) of missing teeth to be replaced. RESULTS: Women had a worse OHRQoL than men in the RDP group. Higher age was significantly correlated with a better OHRQoL independent of treatment modality. Participants about to receive FDP in one jaw in the masticatory zone only had a better OHRQoL than RDP participants in the same group. The most frequently reported problems in all groups concerned functional limitations, discomfort and physical disabilities. Little variance in reported items was seen between the sub-groups and social handicap was not frequently reported. CONCLUSIONS: The difference in OHRQoL between participants about to receive RDP and FDP was limited. The most frequently reported problems concerned functional limitations, discomfort and physical disabilities. Social handicap was not frequently reported.

Patient-generated aspects in oral rehabilitation decision making. II. Comparison of an individual systematic interview method and the oral health impact profile.

PURPOSE: The effect of impaired oral functions is best described by the patient, and a shift toward a patient-oriented decision-making process in oral rehabilitation is evident. The Oral Health Impact Profile-49 (OHIP-49) questionnaire has been the most commonly used method to measure oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in dentistry. An individualized method, the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life-Direct Weighing (SEIQoL-DW), has proven to fulfill most of the criteria for a method to assist in the decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of the OHIP-49 questionnaire and the SEIQoL-DW method in measuring OHRQoL and generating useful information for decision making in oral rehabilitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty participants in need of oral rehabilitation were enrolled in the study. Patients received a clinical examination, were interviewed using the SEIQoL-DW, filled out the OHIP-49 questionnaire, and answered two global oral health-rating questions. RESULTS: The SEIQoL-DW generated additional information compared to the OHIP-49. The information was more oral- and treatment-specific, including consultation issues and the patient-practitioner relationship. The overall SEIQoL-DW and OHIP-49 scores were significantly correlated. The OHIP-49 and SEIQoL-DW scores were related to oral health subjectively. CONCLUSIONS: The SEIQoL-DW method proved a useful aid in clinical decision making for oral rehabilitation. The SEIQoL-DW was more appropriate for generating information useful for decision making than measuring OHRQoL; the OHIP-49 was more appropriate for measuring OHRQoL than generating information.