Functional dental status and oral health-related quality of life in an over 40 years old Chinese population

This study aimed to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) related to dental status. One thousand four hundred sixty-two Chinese subjects over 40 years, dentate in both jaws, were categorized in a hierarchical functional classification system with and without tooth replacements. OHIP-14CN scores were used to assess OHRQoL and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression including five dental conditions ('a parts per thousand yen10 teeth in each jaw'; 'complete anterior regions'; 'sufficient premolar regions' (a parts per thousand yen3 posterior occluding pairs (POPs)); 'sufficient molar regions' (bilaterally a parts per thousand yen1 POP); and tooth replacement) after adjustment for five background variables. Likelihood ratios for impaired OHRQoL (OHIP total score a parts per thousand yen5) were assessed at each level of the classification system. In the hierarchical scheme, OHIP-14CN total scores were highest in branch '< 10 teeth in each jaw' (8.5 +/- 9.5 to 12.3 +/- 13.2). In branch 'a parts per thousand yen10 teeth' scores ranged from 6.2 +/- 7.7 to 8.3 +/- 9.3. The most important dental condition discriminating for impact on OHRQoL was 'a parts per thousand yen10 teeth in each jaw' (Likelihood ratio 1.59). In this branch subsequent levels were discriminative for impaired OHRQoL (Likelihoods 1.29-1.69), in the branch '< 10 teeth in each jaw' they were not (Likelihoods 0.99-1.04). Tooth replacements were perceived poorer as their natural counterparts (odd ratios, 1.30 for fixed and 1.47 for removable appliances). OHRQoL was strongly associated with the presence of at least 10 teeth in each jaw. The hierarchical classification system predicted approximately 60 % of subjects correctly with respect to impaired OHRQoL. From an OHRQoL perspective, natural teeth were preferred over artificial teeth.