A longitudinal pilot study examining the influence of the orthodontic system chosen in adult patients (brackets versus aligners) on oral health-related quality of life and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the demand for orthodontic treatment with aligners has increased, led by patient need, as aligners typically provide them with improved aesthetics and less physical discomfort. In deciding with the patient on an appropriate orthodontic system, it is important to take into account the potential discomfort and the perceptions that patients have in relation to their treatment. The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of brackets or aligners on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and anxiety levels in a sample of adult patients during the first month of treatment. METHODS: The pilot study was carried out at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca between November 2023 and February 2024. Eighty adult patients who initiated orthodontic treatment were selected and divided into two groups: the brackets group (Victory®; 3 M Unitek, California, USA) (n = 40) and the aligners group (Invisalign®; Align Technology, California, USA) (n = 40). OHRQoL was analyzed using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire, and anxiety was analyzed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). The follow-up time was one month, with scores recorded at the beginning (T0) and one month after starting treatment (T1). RESULTS: The mean patient age was 33.70 (± 5.45) years old. The total sample (n = 80) consisted of 66.2% men and 33.8% women. In the brackets group, one month after starting treatment, the dimension with the highest impact was that of physical pain (5.62 ± 1.51). In the aligners group, where the dimension of psychological disability had the highest score (4.22 ± 1.02). In the brackets group the total OHIP score was higher at one month (T1) (33.98 ± 6.81) than at the start of treatment (T0) (21.80 ± 3.34); this greater impact on OHRQoL one month after starting treatment was not observed in the aligners group (T1 = 27.33 ± 6.83; T0 = 27.33 ± 6.22). The orthodontic system used did not influence participants' anxiety (p > 0.05). Age and sex were not influential factors in either OHRQoL or anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: The bracket system significantly influenced patients' OHRQoL. In the sample studied, no influence of the orthodontic system (brackets versus aligners) on anxiety was observed.

Assessing oral health-related quality of life among older people in home-based care - survey results of the InSEMaP study in Germany.

BACKGROUND: Older people receiving home-based care (HBC) often face barriers to access preventive oral health care (OHC) and dental treatments. Leading to deterioration of their oral healthcare. It is further deteriorated by factors such as increasing burden of systemic diseases, medicinal side effects, limited mobility, financial constraints and lack of professional OHC at home. Older people also struggle to maintain necessary daily oral hygiene, leading to malnutrition, weight loss, and a risk of a further health degradation. This cross-sectional survey aimed to investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and their associated factors in HBC recipients. METHODS: 5,280 older people (≥ 60 years) living in Hamburg, who were in need of care and insured with statutory health insurance DAK-Gesundheit received the questionnaire, which included the German version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP G-14) and, the EQ-5D health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measure as well as further questions regarding the extent of informal social support, subjective oral health status, oral health behaviour, subjective cognitive status, and socio-demographic variables. RESULTS: The participants (n = 1,622) had a median age of 83.2 years, with 72.0% of the sample being female. Nearly two thirds of the sample reported that their independence or abilities were significantly impaired (care level 2). Regarding oral health impacts, 40.0% of the participants reported experiencing at least one of the fourteen possible prevalent impacts of the OHIP-G14 fairly often or very often. A multivariate regression model on the severity of oral health impacts revealed, that a better HRQoL, a positive perception of one's own dental status, fewer visits to dental practices, and no need for support in OHC were associated with better OHRQoL. Conversely, respondents with a negative perception of their oral health status, more frequent visits to a dental practice, a need for support in OHC, and subjective memory impairment showed poorer OHRQoL. CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the risk for poor oral health among older people in HBC. We conclude that there is an urgent need to prioritise oral health, especially as poor oral health can further compromise the systemic wellbeing of these already care dependent population.

Effect of aligners on patients' oral health-related quality of life and anxiety: a prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study explored the impact of aligners on the oral health-related quality of life and anxiety of patients during the first month of orthodontic treatment and the first month of the retention phase. METHODS: A total of 23 male and female patients (median age 25 y) treated with clear aligners were included. The OHRQoL questionnaire was used at certain time points during treatment (T1: placement of the first aligner; T2: after one day of use; T3: after seven days; T4: after one month; and T5: after one month in the retention phase). The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was also self-administered to assess state and trait anxiety (Y1 and Y2 subscales, respectively) at the T1, T4 and T5 time points. A population average generalized estimating equations logistic regression model was fit to assess the effect of time on the responses, and the Wald test was used to examine the overall effect of time. RESULTS: Overall time was a significant predictor for most of the questions. However, time was marginally significant for the OHRQoL questions evaluating oral symptoms such as bad taste/smell, sores, and food accumulation. Tooth discolouration did not differ between time points. The general activity disturbance was significantly lower in the retention phase. Higher depression and anxiety scores were reported at the initial appointment and decreased thereafter. CONCLUSIONS: CAT has a negative impact on quality of life and psychological status during the initial days of treatment. These impairments ameliorate at later treatment stages.

Impact of dental caries on the daily lives of geriatric patients visiting dental hospitals in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Background: The objectives were to assess the impact of dental caries on the daily living of the geriatric population and determine the factors that influence the relationship between dental health and the daily living of the geriatric population. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out over six months at Rawalpindi's public and private dental hospitals. Participants aged≥60 years, both male and female, were selected. The calculated sample size was 281. Desired sample from one of the dental hospitals was collected using a non-probability consecutive sampling strategy. Data about sociodemographic characteristics and the DMFT index were collected. Adapted validated tool dental impact on daily living (DIDL) was used to assess the impact of dental health on daily living. Results: Chi-squared test of association showed a positive association between the DIDL and sociodemographic variables, including age (P=0.001), gender (P=0.001), education (P=0.001), income (P=0.001), occupation (P=0.029), marital status (P=0.001), living arrangement (P=0.001), and history of chronic illnesses (P=0.001). The association between the DMFT index and DIDL also showed statistically significant results (P=0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that gender (OR=6.98, P=0.005) and the individual's dental health (OR=6.43, P=0.001) were the strongest predictors of the impact experienced in daily life activities. The overall model was statistically significant (χ2=51.24, P=0.001), and the variables were responsible for 32.4% of the variance in the outcome variable. Conclusion: The study provides strong evidence that sociodemographic factors, DMFT index, gender, and individual dental health significantly contribute to the impact of dental health on daily living. Gender and individual dental health emerge as particularly influential predictors. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions and awareness programs, especially for groups with a higher risk of experiencing a significant impact on daily life due to dental issues.

Long-Term Outcomes of Dental Rehabilitation and Quality of Life after Microvascular Alveolar Ridge Reconstruction in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer.

Background/Objectives: Dental rehabilitation after extended tumour resection and jaw reconstruction is challenging. The present study aimed to report the prosthetic outcome and quality of life (QoL) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) after microvascular alveolar ridge reconstruction. Methods: The prosthetic outcomes of all consecutive patients with HNC who underwent microvascular alveolar ridge reconstruction at the University Hospital Salzburg between 2011 and 2018 were investigated. Oral health-related QoL (OHrQoL) and overall QoL were assessed using the validated Oral Health Impact Profile-49 (OHIP-49) and Short Form-36 questionnaires. Results: During the study period, 115 consecutive patients with head and neck cancer underwent microvascular jaw reconstruction. Among them, 23.3% and 27.4% received conventional tissue-borne prostheses and implant-supported prostheses, respectively, while 48.7% did not undergo dental rehabilitation. The prosthetic outcome was not associated with tumour stage (p = 0.32). Oral health-related quality of life (OHrQoL) was best in patients with implant-supported dental rehabilitation (OHIP-49 median score = 7) and worst in those with conventional removable dentures (OHIP-49 median score = 54). The corresponding OHIP-49 median score for patients who could not undergo dental rehabilitation was 30.5. All Short Form-36 subscale scores were equal to or higher than the malignancy norm scores. Conclusions: After microvascular jaw reconstruction, approximately one-third of the HNC patients received adequate implant-supported dental rehabilitation. However, the risk of dental rehabilitation failure was 50%. The different prosthetic outcomes affected OHrQoL, but not overall QoL.

Linking patient-reported oral and general health-related quality of life.

Background: The relationship between oral and overall health is of interest to health care professionals and patients alike. This study investigated the correlation between oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a general adult population. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of adult participants (N = 607) attending the 2022 Minnesota County and State fairs in USA, the 5-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-5) assessed OHRQoL, and the 10-item PROMIS v.1.2 Global Health Instrument assessed HRQoL. Spearman and Pearson correlations were used to summarize the bivariable relationship between OHRQoL and HRQoL (both physical and mental health dimensions). A structural equation model determined OHRQoL-HRQoL correlations (r). Correlations' magnitude was interpreted according to Cohen's guidelines (r = 0.10, 0.30, and 0.50 to demarcate "small," "medium," and "large" effects, respectively). Results: OHRQoL and HRQoL correlated with r = 0.52 (95% confidence interval, CI: [0.50-0.55]), indicating that the two constructs shared 27% of their information. According to Cohen, this was a "large" effect. OHRQoL, and the physical and mental HRQoL dimensions correlated with r = 0.55 (95% CI: [0.50-0.59]) and r = 0.43 (95% CI: [0.40-0.46]), respectively, indicating a "large" and a "medium" effect. OHRQoL and HRQoL were substantially correlated in an adult population. Conclusion: Using OHIP-5 to assess their dental patients' oral health impact allows dental professionals to gain insights into patients' overall health-related wellbeing.

Effects of dental insurance and dental care utilization on oral health-related daily life activities among federally qualified healthcare center patients in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between dental insurance, dental care utilization and oral health-related impact on daily activities among patients visiting Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers in the United States. METHODS: This cross-sectional study examined the 2014 Health Center Patient Survey (HCPS), a survey of patients who received care at US health centers. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the likelihood of the oral health-related impact on daily activities domains such as school/work performance, sleeping, eating/chewing, social and home activities considering sociodemographic, dental insurance, and dental care utilization. RESULTS: Among 7002 total participants, 6890 self-reported oral health-related impact on daily activities. Adults aged 18-44 were 2.6 times more likely to report an overall impact on everyday life activities compared to children and adolescents. After adjusting for sociodemographics, Hispanic patients were less likely to report any oral health-related impacts, while patients visiting rural centres reported higher odds of oral health related impairment. Patients who experienced delays in receiving dental care or were unable to access dental care when needed were 4.5 times more likely to encounter difficulties in their daily activities. CONCLUSIONS: This study linked limited dental insurance and care to increased oral health issues impacting daily life, particularly among adults, rural populations, and those facing delay in dental care. This highlights the need for policy reforms and interventions aimed at improving dental care access to mitigate the detrimental effects of poor oral health on daily functions for vulnerable populations.

Oral health-related quality of life and perceptions of patients following primary root canal treatment or non-surgical retreatment.

This retrospective cohort study compared the effect of primary root canal treatment (RCT) with root canal retreatment (Re-RCT) on patient-reported outcomes in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Forty randomly selected adults participated (RCT n = 20; Re-RCT n = 20). The impact their dentition had on the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) was assessed by calculating the prevalence of oral health impact, and the severity score. Focus group discussions using a semi-structured guide were arranged through an online meeting platform. Qualitative content analysis identified common themes, and relevant quotes gathered. The impact on OHIP-14 was limited for both RCT and Re-RCT groups with no significant differences in the prevalence of oral health impact. Significant differences were found for functional limitation (RCT higher) and psychological discomfort (Re-RCT higher). Common themes from the discussions include the importance of retaining teeth, the significance of effective communication between clinicians and patients and that the respondents were satisfied with the treatment.

Comparison of the effect of dexamethasone, ketoprofen and cold compress on postoperative quality of life following impacted lower third molar surgery: a randomized clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the effect of dexamethasone, ketoprofen and cold compress on the quality of life (QoL) following surgical removal of impacted lower third molars (ILTMs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eligible patients requiring ILTM extraction with a modified Pederson difficulty index score of 5-6 were recruited. The patients were randomly allocated into Groups A, B and C. Groups A and C received 100 mg of ketoprofen and 8 mg of dexamethasone per-oral respectively, preoperatively. Subjects in group B applied a pre-standardized ice pack over the angle of the mandible for 6 h postoperatively. The QoL questionnaire was administered on postoperative days 1, 2 and 7. RESULTS: In total, seventy-eight subjects completed the study: 46 (59%) were male and had a mean age of 27.8 ± 4.9 years. The groups were similar sociodemographically. The overall QoL and appearance domain score were significantly better in patients on oral dexamethasone on postoperative day 1 than in the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oral dexamethasone demonstrates better improvement in postoperative QoL and appearance on day 1 following ILTM surgery compared to ice packs and ketoprofen. Although ice packs are readily available, can be used repeatedly and are a low-cost option, more research is necessary to determine their optimum therapeutic use in outpatient settings. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral dexamethasone is superior to ice pack compress and ketoprofen in improving the postoperative QoL in ILTM surgery. TRIAL REGISTRY REGISTRATION NUMBER: PACTR202005593102009 at Pan African Clinical Trial Registry.

Oral-Health-Related Quality of Life in Elderly Edentulous Patients with Full-Arch Rehabilitation Treatments: A Systematic Review.

Background: The improvement of oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with different types of prosthesis for completely edentulous jaws in the elderly population is a critical factor in clinical decision making for these vulnerable patients. This review aims to evaluate the changes in OHRQoL after treatment with different types of full-arch prostheses in the elderly edentulous population to determine the prostheses that result in the greatest improvement in OHRQoL. Materials and Methods: Clinical studies of different types of full-arch prostheses that measured the OHRQoL in edentulous patients 60 years or older were searched for in the PubMed, Embase and Scopus electronic databases, with additional hand searching to summarize the outcomes of the selected studies. Result: Among the 302 identified studies, 10 studies were selected. A total of 504 patients wearing 133 complete dentures, 372 implant overdentures and 39 fixed prostheses were assessed among the selected studies. The overall OHIP and GOHAI scores were evaluated at baseline and in the 3rd, 6th, 12th and 18th months of treatment with the respective prostheses. The improved OHRQoL with overall OHIP scores associated with conventional dentures were 9.21-12.5% from the 3rd month to 1 year after treatment, whereas those associated with implant overdentures and full-arch fixed prosthesis were 9-25.26% at 1 year and 18.53-26.79 at the 18th-month follow-up, respectively. The increased overall GOHAI scores were 21.3-25.43% for conventional dentures, 36.82-41.32% for implant overdentures and 39.48-42.83% for full-arch fixed prosthesis from the 3rd month to the 6th-month follow-up. Conclusion: In general, the improvement in OHRQoL after rehabilitation with implant overdentures declined at one year, and that with full-arch fixed prosthesis declined at the 18th-month follow-up; meanwhile, the OHRQoL associated with conventional dentures improved stably up to one year, but the implant-supported prostheses resulted in an obviously greater improvement in the OHRQoL than that obtained with conventional dentures. However, studies with longer follow-up periods are still required to evaluate the long-term clinical effectiveness.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in a Paediatric Population in the Dominican Republic.

Introduction: During the summer of 2019 and within the framework of a social dentistry program carried out in the low-income town of San Francisco de Macorís (Dominican Republic), a descriptive study was carried out on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), aiming to find out the oral health status of a population of children in the aforementioned Dominican city. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the oral health status of a child population and its relationship with the quality of life perceived by these children in the aforementioned population of San Francisco de Macorís in order to develop an specific oral health program taking into account not only the existing oral health status but also the perceptions and feelings of the child population in this regard. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on a representative sample of children who were examined on their oral health status, following WHO guidelines, by professionals from the University of Seville (Spain) together with professionals from private practice (USA) and students from the Universidad Católica Nordestana (UCNE, Dominican Republic). Likewise, the children's parents voluntarily completed the Oral Quality of Life questionnaire COHIP-19 in its culturally adapted Spanish version. Results: For this purpose, 94 children with a mean age of 10.34 (SD 3.38) were observed in our study following WHO recommendations for oral health studies and evaluating OHQoL using the specific questionnaire validated in Spanish COHIP-19 in its short format (SF). The results show a state of oral health with a significant prevalence of caries (80.9%) and a DMFT of 1.70 (SD 1.90). The OHQoL perceived by these children shows that pain, bad breath or feeling sad because of the condition of their teeth were the factors with the worst evaluation score. Conclusions: The conclusion that mainly emerges from this study is that caries continues to be the main problem to be solved (more than other variables studied, such as malocclusion or fluorosis), and this ailment also causes pain, dysfunction, and bad breath and is therefore perceived as a problem to be solved in the children of this Dominican city.

Oral Health and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life among Elderly People in Iran.

Background: The study aimed to investigate oral health status and its relationship with oral health-related quality of life in the elderly in Isfahan, Iran, in 2022. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Isfahan, with 460 elderly participants. During interviews with the participants, their demographic information, their medical and dental history, oral health-related behaviors, self-perceived oral health, and clinical examinations were collected, and the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI) was completed. The final conclusions were made using the Generalized Linear Model (GLM) test. Results: The mean (sd) scores were 45.05 (8.62) for GOHAI, 5.44 (2.96) for self-perceived oral health, and 18.11 (5.76) for DMFT (Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth). Moreover, the number of remaining teeth on average was 11.78 (11.89), 39.56% of the participants did not brush their teeth, 40% of the elderly had complete dentures, and 27.17% had dental insurance. After adjusting and modifying the variables, the GLM test revealed that strong predictors for higher GOHAI scores were the higher levels of education (p < .001), the higher frequency of remaining teeth (p = 0.002), more pleasant self-perceived oral health (p < .001), and dental insurance (p = 0.04). Conclusions: According to the findings, the elderly's oral health-related quality of life in Isfahan was low, which was caused by the following factors: edentulism, few numbers of remaining teeth, high DMFT score, elderly' non-adjustment with dentures and their low quality, inappropriate oral health-related behaviors, lack of complementary insurance for dentistry, and non-using dental services, and low levels of education.

Immediate versus early loading of immediately placed bone-level tapered dental implants with hydrophilic surface in full arch maxillary rehabilitation: A pilot randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up.

This study aimed to compare implant stabilities between the immediate and early loaded, immediately placed bone-level tapered dental implants in the maxilla and to evaluate marginal bone loss (MBL), oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and patient satisfaction at a 2-year follow-up. A pilot, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial was conducted on 24 maxillary failing dentition patients. The bone-level tapered implants of 12 patients were immediately loaded with temporary restorations, while the other 12 patients did not receive any kind of temporization. Implant-supported screw-retained complete porcelain-fused-to-metal prostheses were delivered to all patients in the seventh postoperative week. The insertion torque values of implants assigned to the immediate and early loading groups were 33.0 ± 4.87 and 29.26 ± 8.31 Ncm, respectively. The dynamics of implant stability changes from implant placement up to a 2-year follow-up were similar for both groups (Penguin®, p = 0.268; Ostell®, p = 0.552), while the MBL was at submillimeter level. The cumulative implant survival rate was 91.80% for immediately loaded implants and 97.22% for early loaded implants, without significant difference (p = 0.162). The total score on the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire significantly decreased over time in both groups, indicating improvement in OHRQoL (p < 0.001), and the high level of patient satisfaction remained after 2 years of function regardless of a loading protocol. Both loading protocols, immediate and early, of six immediately placed bone-level tapered dental implants are an adequate treatment choice for fixed rehabilitation of the maxillary failing dentition.

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Muscular Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Muscular temporomandibular joint disorders (M-TMDs) encompass a wide range of painful muscular conditions, which can provoke functional limitation and severely affect quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess the treatment outcomes in patients affected by M-TMDs in terms of pain scores assessed with pressure pain threshold (PPT). The levels of depression, anxiety, and the Oral Health Impact Profile were also assessed and compared to healthy controls. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of M-TMDs and a control group of healthy subjects were enrolled. At baseline, OHIP-14, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were administered. PPT was registered at the level of masseter and temporalis muscles. The patients affected by M-TMDs were then treated with oral splints and physio-kinesiotherapy following a standardized treatment protocol. At the 6-month follow-up of M-TMD-affected patients, PPT was registered, and the questionnaires were re-administered to evaluate treatment outcomes. In total, sixty patients and sixty controls were enrolled. The treatment of M-TMDs produced a significant improvement in PPT at the level of the masseter muscle. OHIP-14 at baseline in the M-TMD group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, a significant reduction in OHIP-14 scores was registered, although with higher scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). PHQ-9 was significantly higher at baseline in the M-TMD group (p < 0.05) and decreased to values comparable to the control group after treatment. GAD-7 presented statistically significant differences between the control group and M-TMD patients at baseline (p < 0.05) and between pre- and post-treatment in the M-TMD group. Following treatment, the GAD-7 scores were comparable to the control group. The symptom burden associated with M-TMDs negatively affects quality of life, with higher oral health impairment and a tendency towards depression and anxiety compared to healthy subjects. Following treatment, an improvement in both PPT and quality of life was observed.

Orthodontic pain is related to oral health-related quality of life in orthodontic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Orthodontic pain (OP) is a subjective experience induced by prolonged force on the teeth in fixed orthodontic treatment. OP acts as a predictor of aspects related to oral health-related quality of life (OHRQOL). It is important to understand the extent of the impact of OP on a patient's daily life, especially on stomatognathic function and social impact. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between OP and OHRQOL in fixed orthodontic treatment patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The comparative pain rating scale is used to assess pain intensity, while the oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14) assesses the impact of OP severity on OHRQOL of 57 patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment in the early stages of treatment (1-3 months of treatment) at the Dental Hospital, Universitas Airlangga. Gender, age, and malocclusion classifications were also analyzed for their influence. The data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: In the initial phase of treatment, most of the patients (53%) experienced mild OP and moderate OP (39%), and OP was reduced over a week. The overall OHRQOL score was 17.4 ± 8, which indicates a negative impact on OHRQOL. There were also positive correlation dimensions of OHRQOL, which include the dimensions of physical limitations, psychological discomfort, and psychological limitations (r > 0.50). There was a significant difference between age groups in OP perception and OHRQOL (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There was a positive correlation between OP intensity and OHRQOL experienced by fixed orthodontic patients at the Dental Hospital, Universitas Airlangga.

Relationship between Sleep Bruxism Determined by Non-Instrumental and Instrumental Approaches and Psychometric Variables.

Sleep bruxism (SB) can be determined with different diagnostic procedures. The relationship between psychometric variables and SB varies depending on the diagnostic method. The aim of the study was to compare the association between SB and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL; measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile, OHIP), anxiety (measured by the State-Trait anxiety inventory, STAI), and stress (single scale variable) depending on the diagnostic method in the same sample. N = 45 participants were examined by non-instrumental (possible/probable SB) and instrumental methods (definite SB). The OHIP differed significantly between possible SB (median = 4) and non-SB (median = 0) with W = 115, p = 0.01, and probable SB (median = 6) and non-SB (median = 0) with W = 101, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in the OHIP score between definite SB and non-SB. For the other psychometric variables, the analyses revealed no significant differences between SB and non-SB in all diagnostic procedures. The results suggest that there is a difference between possible/probable and definite SB with respect to the association with OHRQoL. Certain aspects of possible/probable SB might be responsible for the poor OHRQoL, which are not measured in definite SB.

The effect of somatic pain and comorbid mental distress on oral health-related quality of life in orthodontic patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of somatic pain in orthodontic patients and determine whether somatic pain contributes to worsening oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) through the mediating effect of psychological discomfort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scale measurements and analyses were conducted on a cohort of 769 orthodontic outpatients, encompassing Patient Health Questionnaire-15-pain (PHQ-15-P), Hua-Xi Emotional-Distress Index (HEI), Psychosocial Impact of Dental Aesthetics Questionnaire (PIDAQ), and Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). RESULTS: Among the respondents, 56.3% (N = 433) reported somatic pain and 20.0% (N = 154) had mental discomfort based on PHQ-15-P and HEI scores. Patients with somatic pain symptoms had significantly higher scores of HEI and OHIP-14 (P < 0.001), and higher PHQ-15-P and HEI scores emerged as statistically significant predictors of lower OHIP-14 scores (P < 0.001). HEI scores which assessed anxiety and depression partially mediated the correlation between PHQ-15-P and OHIP-14 scores, of which anxiety accounted for 52.9% of the overall mediation effect, dominating the indirect effect. CONCLUSION: Orthodontic patients reporting somatic pains were at a significantly higher risk of worsening OHRQoL during treatment, and this adverse effect is partially mediated by anxiety and depression. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our findings highlight the necessity for the assessment of general health and mental well-being during orthodontic interventions. To prevent delays in treating general disorders and the potential failure of orthodontic treatments, we encourage increased attentiveness towards patients with somatic symptoms and consideration of the adverse effects of comorbid mental distress.

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Following Root Canal Treatment of First Permanent Molars Among Children. A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: This study aimed to assess the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of pediatric patients (9-18 years old) who underwent root canal treatment (RCT) on first permanent molars (FPMs). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at three healthcare centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Participants (n = 482) completed the validated OHIP5-Ar questionnaire to assess OHRQoL. Responses were classified as "optimal" (no problems) or "less than optimal" (any reported problems). Logistic regression analyzed the relationship between OHRQoL and sociodemographic factors. Results: There were 66.8% children reported optimal OHRQoL after RCT. Logistic regression showed no significant association between optimal OHRQoL and gender, family income, or location of treated tooth. However, although not statistically significant. Treating only one FPM with RCT (compared to multiple teeth) and lower family income (compared to higher income) were more likely to have decreased or increased odds of optimal OHRQoL (AOR = 0.684 or 1.424; respectively). Conclusion: RCT on FPMs can be a successful treatment option for pediatric patients, offering optimal oral health-related quality of life.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Maxillomandibular Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatment: A Scoping Review.

(1) Background: The present scoping review aims to scrutinize all existing patient-reported outcomes and assess the perspectives of obstructive sleep apnea patients after maxillomandibular surgery. (2) Methods: The review was carried out according to the extensions for scoping reviews using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Several databases were used to carry out the initial search. This study included randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, cross-sectional and case-control studies. The included studies considered patients with obstructive sleep apnea who were submitted to orthognathic surgery as the main subjects, and the patient's perception of quality of life, satisfaction, treatment experience and side effects were assessed. (3) Results: From 1407 examined articles, a total of 16 were included. Most of the included studies used more than one questionnaire to assess quality of life, except for five articles. The most commonly referred instruments were the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, SF-36, the Functional Outcomes of Sleep and Ottawa Sleep Apnea. The most commonly assessed outcomes were sleep quality, daytime function, facial aesthetics, dental function and emotional health. (4) Conclusions: The number of variables that can be evaluated from a patient's perspective are endless, as are the tools available to assess them. Not all of these tools, which are generally questionnaires, assess all the various outcomes, and some do not compare the pre- and post-surgical situations. Most of them are generic and lack specificity for obstructive sleep apnea.

Evaluation of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Patient with Herpes-Associated Erythema Multiforme: A Unique Case Report.

Introduction: Erythema multiforme (EM) is an acute mucocutaneous hypersensitivity reaction with various etiological factors, including herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection, known as herpes-associated erythema multiforme (HAEM). Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is a multidimensional concept of biopsychosocial aspects related to oral health. OHRQol contains information for patient-centered treatment plan development. The OHRQoL measurement instrument widely used by clinicians is the oral health impact profile-14 (OHIP-14). This case report aimed to evaluate OHRQoL in HAEM patient, which only manifests on the lips and oral cavity. Case: A 25-year-old male patient came to the Department of Oral Medicine with the chief complaint of painful canker sores on the lips. Extra-oral examination revealed serosanguineous crusts on the lips that were painful and easily bleed. Intra-oral examination showed diffused and painful irregular erythematous lesions on the upper and lower labial mucosa. The anti-HSV1 IgG test was positive. The patient was diagnosed with HAEM. Case Management: Pharmacological therapy included triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% in orabase, acyclovir tablets, multivitamins, and 0.9% NaCl. Non-pharmacological therapy included advice on maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding spicy and sour foods, and breaking the bad habit of licking the lips. Conclusion: The patient's physical, psychological, and social conditions showed improvement and returned to normal after 7 days of treatment. In conclusion, oral health is an important factor that can improve the quality of life of HAEM patient.