OHRQoL in a Sample of Alcohol and Drug Abusers

AIMS: To determine oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) in a large sample of substance abusers and to evaluate the effect of dental treatment on OHRQoL. DESIGN: A longitudinal observational study. SETTINGS: A dental care clinic specialized in treating severely addicted patients. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of severely addicted substance abusers. MEASUREMENTS: OHRQoL was measured using the OHIP-14, which was filled out at baseline (T0), prior to the first treatment session (T1), after about 6 treatment sessions (T2) and on the last day of treatment (T3). FINDINGS: Mean OHIP scores did not change from T0 to T1. At T1, a mean OHIP-14 total score = 37.1 (sd=12.4, N = 392) was found. The highest mean scores were observed for the subscales physical pain and psychological discomfort. Data from 129 patients was available on both T1 and T2. The mean OHIP-14 total score reduced significantly (mean difference = 5.63, 95% CI 3.76 – 7.51), t(128)=5.94, p <0.001. The highest reduction in mean score was found for the subscale physical pain (mean difference = 1.24, 95%CI 0.81 – 1.66). Also between T2 and T3 a significant reduction in OHIP-14 total score (mean difference = 2.41, 95%CI 0.06-4.76) took place. CONCLUSION: The oral health status of substance abusers does have a substantial effect on their quality of life, which can be improved to a great extent by dental treatment based on a model tailored to addicted patients.