Pandemic pressure: the impact of COVID-19 on dental students’ oral health and well-being in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted dental education and affected students' oral health and overall well-being. This study explored the impact of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) among Malaysian undergraduate dental students during the pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 530 students from nine dental schools in Malaysia using the validated Oral Health Impacts Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. The OHIP-14 measures functional and psychosocial disabilities caused by oral health issues. The average OHIP-14 score was 10.86 ± 8.47, with 21.3% of students reporting impacts on their OHRQoL. The most affected subscales were psychological discomfort (38.2%), psychological disability (26.9%), and physical pain (22.2%). There were no significant differences in daily performance difficulties between preclinical and clinical students. This study highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on Malaysian dental students' OHRQoL, particularly in psychological and physical aspects. Dental educators and policymakers should prioritize strategies to support students' oral health and overall well-being during such challenging times.