Oral health–related quality of life and its determinants among the Saudi adult population: a cross-sectional analytical study

Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) reflects the subjective impact of oral health on individuals’ social, psychological, and functional well-being. While oral health challenges in Saudi Arabia persist despite advancements in healthcare, there is a scarcity of research examining OHRQoL across various demographic groups. This study aimed to evaluate the OHRQoL of adults in Saudi Arabia using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and examine its association with sociodemographic factors and self-perceived oral health behaviors. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1054 participants from all regions of Saudi Arabia, recruited through stratified sampling. Data were collected using a structured, validated Arabic version of the OHIP-14 questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, t-tests, ANOVA, and multiple logistic regression. The mean OHIP-14 score was 12.6 (SD: 11.7), with 89.5% of participants reporting at least one problem affecting OHRQoL. Higher OHIP-14 scores, indicating poorer OHRQoL, were significantly associated with being male, aged 40–49 years, residing in the southern region, being married, working full-time, having a higher monthly income, smoking, and reporting poor general and oral health. Behavioral factors, such as irregular dental checkups, infrequent tooth brushing, and bad breath, also contributed significantly to worse OHRQoL. Regression analysis identified age, place of residence, dental checkups, and bad breath as significant predictors of problems and frequent problems on the OHIP-14 scale. This study highlights significant variations in OHRQoL among the Saudi population, driven by sociodemographic factors, oral health behaviors, and self-perceived oral health. The findings emphasize the importance of tailored public health interventions focusing on oral hygiene awareness, regular dental checkups, and access to care, particularly in underserved regions.