Clinical Psychology of Oral Health: The Link Between Teeth and Emotions

Abstract

The effects of oral health conditions on physical and psychosocial dimensions have been a matter of interest for several authors over the last decades. Nevertheless, literature lacks studies that address the relationship between the oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) and emotions. The present study aimed to investigate the psychological impact of oral disorders on people’s emotional well-being, with a particular attention to gender and age differences. Two hundred twenty-nine dental patients in care at private dental clinics were individually tested. One hundred thirty of them were females (56.8%) and 99 males (43.2%), aged between 18 and 83 years ( M = 38.11; SD = 16.7). For the evaluation, the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were used. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlations, the ANOVA, and the Kruskal–Wallis test. OHRQoL showed several correlations with all the emotions explored, overcoming the well-known relationship with anxiety and depression ( p < .05). The degree of OHRQoL produced differences on mood states, which could appear normal, moderately altered, or psychopathological ( p < .03). Furthermore, in different life stages, patients showed specific OHRQoL and emotions.