Assessment of self-reported symptoms and oral health-related quality of life in patients requiring periodontal treatment

Aim: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) refers to the impact of social, psychological, and functional factors, as well as problems in the oral-facial region, on individuals’ well-being. This observational study aimed to evaluate the relationship between self-reported symptoms and OHRQoL and the periodontal status of patients presenting for periodontal treatment. Methodology: The study comprised 170 individuals recruited from the Department of Periodontology at Necmettin Erbakan University. Participants were divided into three groups based on their periodontal status: periodontally healthy (65 individuals), gingivitis (51 individuals), and periodontitis (54 individuals). Various clinical periodontal parameters, such as the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BoP), tooth mobility, and clinical attachment loss (CAL), were assessed alongside self-reported periodontal symptoms. Additionally, participants completed the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) questionnaire. Results: Both the periodontitis and gingivitis groups exhibited similar outcomes concerning gingival redness and gingival bleeding during brushing. However, a significantly higher number of affirmative responses for other symptoms were recorded in the periodontitis group (p<0.05). Additionally, the periodontitis group had the highest total OHIP-14 scores and subscale scores, while the periodontally healthy group exhibited the lowest scores (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrates a significant relationship between OHRQoL, patients' self-reported symptoms, and periodontitis. How to cite this article: Taştan Eroğlu Z, Yıldız K, Uçan Yarkaç F, Özkan Şen D, Babayiğit O. Assessment of self-reported symptoms and oral health-related quality of life in patients requiring periodontal treatment. Int Dent Res. 2024;14(S1):36-44. https://doi.org/10.5577/indentres.554