Dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs) in randomized controlled trials in periodontology for the period 2023-2025: A meta-research study

Dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs), which capture patients’ subjective experiences of their oral health, promote more patient-centered, personalized, and effective dental care. This study aims to assess the types and frequency of dPROs and dental patient-reported outcome measures (dPROMs) reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in periodontology for the period 2023-2025, and to explore variables associated with reporting of dPROs in these trials. A PubMed search was conducted on 2 nd July, 2025, to identify eligibles studies. RCTs in periodontology, involving human subjects, and published from 2023 onwards were included. The reported dPROs and the corresponding dPROMs were extracted and summarized. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess associations between various variables and reporting of dPROs. A total of 175 RCTs were included, of which 53 studies (30.3%) reported at least one dPRO. The most frequently reported dPROs were orofacial pain (N=23), discomfort (N=17), and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) (N=13). The most commonly reported dPROM for both orofacial pain and discomfort was the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), while the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) was most commonly reported to assess OHRQoL. The reporting of dPROs was statistically significantly associated with 4-year journal impact factor (Odds Ratio [OR]: 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17-1.88; P<0.01) and duration of follow-up of study subjects (OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.04-4.42; P=0.04). dPROs were infrequently reported in the RCTs in periodontology. RCTs that reported dPROs were more likely to be published in journals with higher impact factors and have longer follow-up time.