Dental Health and Quality of Life in 117 Patients from Kosovo, Aged 6-80 Years, Evaluated Using the Dental Impact on Daily Living (DIDL) Questionnaire and the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dental health on quality of life (QoL) in 117 patients from Kosova, aged 6-80 years, using the Dental Impact on Daily Living (DL) questionnaire and the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 117 patients, approximately half male and half female, aged 6-80 years. The subjects came for dental appointments and filled out 2 questionnaires: DIDL addressing questions on appearance, comfort, pain, performance and eating restriction, and OHRQoL assessing dental-specific questions for evaluation of satisfaction with oral health, and evaluation of importance they attribute to oral health. Collected data included age, gender, income, education level, and frequency of brushing teeth per day. RESULTS The participants were relatively satisfied with their DIDL health (score >0) and also had positive views on OHRQoL (score >0). No participants evaluated the appearance, comfort, eating restrictions, or pain as satisfactory. Comparisons of age, gender, education, income level, and frequency of brushing teeth showed that female participants evaluated their DIDL higher than male participants (P=0.043). Age was correlated with the frequency of teeth brushing per day (rho=-0.450; P<0.001). Gender, age, education level, income level, and frequency of teeth brushing did not influence QoL. CONCLUSIONS This small study from Kosovo showed reasonable satisfaction with oral health and its associated QoL. While participants reported good effects of oral health on their QoL, they were least satisfied with comfort and most satisfied with their performance.