The use of the oral health impact profile to measure the impact of mild, moderate and severe hypodontia on oral health-related quality of life in young adults

Abstract

There is limited understanding of the subjective impact of congenital absence of teeth in patients with hypodontia. This study aimed to investigate the impact of mild, moderate and severe hypodontia on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and its relationship to age, gender and extent of hypodontia prior to treatment. 82 patients (43 females and 39 males, age range from 16 to 34 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of non-syndromic hypodontia were recruited for this study prior to treatment. Demographic details were recorded and a clinical examination documented the number and location of missing teeth. Participants were also asked to complete an oral health-related quality of life measure, the OHIP-49. The impact was of hypodontia was significant, with appearance concerns being the most prevalent impacts on oral health-related quality of life. Gender was a significant predictor of the overall OHIP-49 score, with females having higher level of impacts. The number and location of missing permanent teeth was not a good predictor of quality of life. However, location of missing teeth was a predictor of the psychological discomfort subscale score. There was a positive correlation between age and the functional limitation and physical disability subscale scores. This study shows that the impact of hypodontia on oral health-related quality of life is substantial. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.