According to Dovepress, a person’s degree of personal health can be determined by oral health. However, there is a need for more data on dentistry patients’ difficulties in terms of OHRQoL and other aspects of oral health.
This study aims to look at the factors that affect dental patients’ OHRQoL, as well as the relationship between their oral health practices and their OHRQoL. Between June and July 2022, staff from the Department of Stomatology at the First Mobile General Hospital of the Armed Police in Hebei, China, conducted cross-sectional research.
To measure OHRQoL, we employed the OHIP-5, a condensed version of the Oral Health Impact Profile. A socio-demographic questionnaire and a questionnaire regarding the individuals’ oral health practices were used to collect information about the participants (which included 16 questions).
A sample of 186 outpatients from a dental clinic in Hebei, China, were studied for relationships between oral health-related quality of life and oral health-related activities. Fewer than 20% of individuals polled reported having high or excellent dental health, and 80.6% of those suffering from tooth discomfort also reported having poor oral health. By discovering that patients who benefitted from improved socioeconomic conditions and dental hygiene also had a more excellent quality of life, we could not answer our original study question.
Only 17.7% of visits were for physical examination or consultation, much lower than the rate of 71.6% of people in the United States in 201030 and the results of the American HIV outpatient clinic survey31. Gingival swelling, pain, or bleeding accounted for 50.5% of visits, which was lower than in He et al.29’s study, while other discomforts, such as loose teeth and bad breath, accounted for 31.7%.
In the outpatient clinic, 34.4% of patients with periodontitis, 17.7% with caries, and 10.2% with missing teeth were seen. In China, the prevalence of advanced periodontitis (stages III and IV) ranges from 10.6 percent to 43.5 percent, making periodontitis one of the most common oral diseases in the country. Periodontal disease is linked to Alzheimer’s disease, and previous research has found a relationship between periodontal disease and other non-infectious systemic diseases.
Periodontal disease research is a potential new Alzheimer’s disease research focus. Because of its antagonistic relationship with dental health-related quality of life, better efforts should be directed at preventing and treating periodontal disease.
The Chinese Residents’ Oral Health Behavior Guide for Healthcare Professionals recommends brushing, rinsing, and flossing to maximize plaque removal and minimize plaque development. Knowledge and usage rates of oral health care items beyond the basics of a toothbrush and toothpaste still need to be higher.
Using fluoride toothpaste and flossing, including threads composed of synthetic fiber to remove food particles and plaque between teeth, can help prevent dental caries. The rates of flossing among the 58 participants (36% versus 9% in a prior national cross-sectional study are higher but still much lower than the national average (71.91%).
In China’s third national oral epidemiological study, caries rates for children, adults, and the elderly were 66.0 percent, 61.0 percent, and 75.2 percent, respectively, highlighting the critical need for oral health education and promotion.
One of the most surprising outcomes of the study was that more than half of those who use toothpaste were unaware of the fluoride concentration. Although most patients are aware of fluoride toothpaste, only 26.3% use it. This is currently insufficient and must be corrected immediately.
The amount of fluoride absorbed daily may be approximated by summing the quantities consumed by tap water and toothpaste. This might result in an increase in fluorosis cases in locations where the condition is standard and in caries in areas where fluoride is uncommon.
Patients who require dental treatment have low OHRQoL and should make lifestyle changes. Because dental illness is so frequent among Chinese people, it’s critical to understand and adopt prevention techniques. Professional oral health management is critical for maintaining and promoting healthy choices, especially regarding regular dental treatment.
Medical practitioners, including obstetricians, gynecologists, and family doctors, should have a solid oral health education foundation to offer better patient care. Although more prospective research is needed to corroborate these findings, the connections between social and behavioral aspects and dental patients’ quality of life in China were shown to be substantial.
