Periodontal Status and Quality of Life: Impact of Fear of Pain and Dental Fear

Abstract EN

Background.

Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is impacted by periodontal disease and orofacial pain.

There is a limited research examining the impact of avoidance of care or physiological arousal related to the fear of pain response on periodontal-related OHRQoL.

Methods.

Data are from the Center for Oral Health Research in Appalachia family-based study focusing on 1,339 adults.

Measures included a modified Periodontal Screening and Recording Index across sextants of dentition, dental fear survey, Fear of Pain Questionnaire-9, and Oral Health Impact Profile-14.

Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the effects of periodontal disease screening indicators on OHRQoL including the mediating role of dental fear while accounting for fear of pain.

Results.

A significant total effect was found for the mandibular anterior sextant, components of dental anxiety/fear, and indicators of OHRQoL (pain and discomfort, β=.165, p=.001; psychosocial impact, β=.199, p<.001).

The maxillary anterior region was significantly associated with pain discomfort (β=.116, p=.017) and functionality (β=.130, p=.011).

Conclusions.

Findings provide a granular perspective of periodontal disease indicators and OHRQoL.

Dental avoidance/anticipatory fear and physiological arousal mediate OHRQoL in individuals who have indicators of periodontal disease in sextants that may be visible and susceptible to higher pain and psychosocial impact.