Effect of Dental Caries on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Among Young Adults: A Systematic Review.

Oral health plays a significant role in an individual's well-being. Poor oral health is manifested as tooth loss, dental caries, periodontal diseases, and oral cancer. Early stages are often asymptomatic, but advanced stages of dental caries may lead to pain, infections, abscesses, and even sepsis. Any disease that could interfere with the activities of daily life may have an adverse effect on the general quality of life. The concept of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) brings a new perspective to clinical care and research. It shifts the focus of clinicians and researchers from the oral cavity alone to the patient as a whole. Therefore, the notion of OHRQoL is the product of many observations and studies on the impact of oral diseases on various aspects of life. A thorough analysis of current studies was conducted to explore the impact of dental caries on OHRQoL in individuals aged 18 to 40. This process involved an extensive search through electronic databases, including Cochrane Central, Ovid, Web of Science, and PubMed. Studies that met the inclusion criteria, specifically those detailing cross-sectional research on the influence of dental caries on OHRQoL, were chosen. These studies were then evaluated for potential bias using the AXIS (Appraisal Tool for Cross-Sectional Studies) tool. The database search resulted in 9,058 unique records, with 8,893 deemed irrelevant. After an initial title screening, unrelated articles were eliminated. Of the 165 articles reviewed, 75 were removed due to duplication. Consequently, 90 articles underwent further scrutiny: 60 were excluded after reviewing their titles and abstracts, and 30 were subjected to a full-text review. Of these, 17 did not satisfy all the selection criteria and were excluded. The final review included 13 studies. Among these, eight used the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP)-14 questionnaire, while five used the Oral Impact on Daily Performances (OIDP) questionnaire, with all studies showing a significant connection between dental caries and OHRQoL. In all 13 studies, a significant association was observed between age groups (both young adults and adults) and OHRQoL due to untreated dental caries. Dental caries affected the OHRQoL in both young adults and adults. The findings provide evidence of increased impairment in OHRQoL with the greater severity and extent of untreated dental caries.