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Review
. 2003 Sep 8:1:40.
doi: 10.1186/1477-7525-1-40.

Assessment of oral health related quality of life

P Finbarr Allen  1
Affiliations
Review

Assessment of oral health related quality of life

P Finbarr Allen. Health Qual Life Outcomes. .

Abstract

In Dentistry, as in other branches of Medicine, it has been recognised that objective measures of disease provide little insight into the impact of oral disorders on daily living and quality of life. A significant body of development work has been undertaken to provide health status measures for use as outcome measures in dentistry. In descriptive population studies, poor oral health related quality of life is associated with tooth loss. There is a less extensive literature of longitudinal clinical trials, and measurement of change and interpretation of change scores continues to pose a challenge. This paper reviews the literature regarding the development and use of these oral health related QoL measures and includes an appraisal of future research needs in this area.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Conceptual model for measuring oral health (Locker, 1988). [Reproduced with the permission of the editor of Community Dental Health]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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