Assessing Oral Health Literacy and Its Association with Orthodontic Literacy among Adults at a Tertiary Care Centre in New Delhi, India

Objectives: Oral health literacy (OHL) is a key determinant of oral health behaviors and outcomes, yet limited OHL remains a barrier to prevention and care. While OHL has been widely studied, orthodontic literacy (OrthoL)—which includes understanding treatment needs, appliance care, and compliance—remains underexplored, particularly in the Indian context. This study assessed oral health literacy among adults and examined its association with orthodontic literacy among patients attending a tertiary care centre in New Delhi. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 180 adult patients attending a tertiary care centre in New Delhi using convenience sampling. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire comprising demographic details, the REALD-30 tool for oral health literacy (OHL), and a validated 10-item orthodontic literacy (OrthoL) questionnaire. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, t-test/ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Among 180 adults (mean age 35.5 ± 10.7 years; 55.6% male, 44.4% female), the mean oral health literacy (OHL) score was 16.97 ± 4.18 (56.6%), and the mean orthodontic literacy (OrthoL) score was 4.12 ± 1.56 (41.2%). Higher educational attainment was significantly associated with both OHL and OrthoL (p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis identified OHL as the strongest predictor of OrthoL (p < 0.001), while age and gender showed no significant influence. A strong positive correlation was observed between OHL and OrthoL (r = 0.699, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Adults attending a tertiary care centre in New Delhi demonstrated moderate oral health literacy but limited orthodontic literacy. Educational attainment was the strongest predictor of OHL, while OHL itself significantly predicted orthodontic literacy. The strong positive correlation between OHL and OrthoL underscores the role of foundational literacy in shaping specialized knowledge. Targeted educational interventions, particularly for individuals with lower education, are recommended to improve comprehension, treatment adherence, and oral health outcomes.