Evaluation of oral health-related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the quality of life associated with oral and dental health in patients referred to the Yazd Dental Faculty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, assessing oral hygiene behaviors through a semi-structured questionnaire and conducting face-to-face interviews using the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-questionnaire developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The sample size comprised 251 participants. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design to evaluate oral hygiene behaviors and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL) using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Participants underwent face-to-face interviews, and the data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mean age of the participants was 33.15±13.56 years, with 78.4% married and 21.6% single. Conclusions: The mean OHIP-14 score was found to be 18.37, with variations observed across different studies. Patient age showed a significant association (p-value < 0.05) with Oral Health- Related Quality of Life (OHRQOL), while sex and marital status did not. Additionally, higher levels of dental anxiety and fear were associated with impaired oral health-related quality of life. Understanding these factors can help healthcare providers address patients' needs and improve oral health outcomes.