Oral Health Practices, Status and Effect of Malocclusion on Quality of Life of College Going Individuals in Chennai, India

Abstract

Introduction: Diseases affecting oro-facial structures can present themselves in a spectrum varying from pain like in case of acute pulpitis to psychosocial effects like in malocclusion. Poor malocclusion causes poorer oral aesthetic self-perception, and affects emotional and social well-being health domains. Aim: To assess the oral health related practices and status among college going students and to evaluate the effect of malocclusion on their quality of life. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 710 subjects of age range 17-23 years. Oral health status was assessed using WHO basic oral health survey (2013), orthodontic treatment needs according to Index of Orthodontic Treatment Needs (IOTN) and oral health quality of life using Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Mann-Whitney test and Fisher’s-exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 710 students were examined. It was seen that in the study population, only 290 (40.8%) knew that oral health affected general health and 501 (70.6%) had never visited dentist. The mean DMFT was 1.80+2.20 and 493 (69.4%) did not have any periodontal problem and 378 (53.2%) required orthodontic treatment ranging from little/mild to very severe orthodontic treatment need and it was seen that there was a difference in all the domains of OHIP-14 among the individuals in orthodontic treatment needed and not needed group and it was statistically very highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: It was seen that the study population had poor dental attendance. The orthodontic treatment need was also high as it should had been initiated at an early age for correction which in turn could improve the oral health related quality of life among the individuals who needed orthodontic treatment.

Keywords

• dental caries
• dental fluorosis
• oral health knowledge
• periodontal problems