Oral health related quality of life among elderly in Moratuwa MOH area (DS Division)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess oral health related quality of life (OHRQOL) among elderly in Moratuwa MOH area (DS Division) in terms of prevalence of impacts related to oral conditions/ the frequency of oral impacts. The study has shown that oral conditions resulted in various physical, psychological and social impacts among elderly with varying frequencies. Those with 12 -31 missing teeth, 7 or more teeth with 3 rd degree mobility,perceived their oral health status to be poor or perceived a need for dental treatment were frequently affected by oral impacts. These findings emphasize the need to incorporate OHRQOL into routine oral health need assessments of "senior citizens", as clinical conditions alone does not fully indicate how senior citizens perceive the impact of their oral conditions.