Changes in the oral health-related quality of life in adult patients with intellectual disabilities after dental treatment under general anesthesia.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess self- and proxy-rated changes in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in adult patients with intellectual disabilities after dental treatment in general anesthesia. METHODS: The OHRQoL in 52 adult patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities was assessed prior to dental treatment in general anesthesia (t0), 2 to 3 (t1) and 12 weeks (t2) postoperatively. Therefore, patients and primary cargivers were surveyed using either the 5-item short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile translated into easy language (OHIP-G5-easy, self-rating, n = 27) or the 14-item short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G14, proxy-rating, n = 51), respectively. OHIP-G5-easy and OHIP-G14 summary scores were statistically analyzed with non-parametric mixed effects models and spearman correlation (p < 0.05). Additionally, the effect of demographic, anamnestic, oral health and treatment factors on QHRQoL or on changes of OHRQoL were analyzed using univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regressions (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Self- (t0: 5.8 +/- 4.6, t1: 4.3 +/- 5.9, t2: 2.0 +/- 3.9) and proxy-ratings (t0: 18.8 +/- 11.6, t1: 10.1 +/- 11.2, t2: 2.7 +/- 5.3) revealed a significant improvement of OHRQoL after dental treatment in general anesthesia. Data showed a moderate correlation (p < 0.001, r(Sp) = 0.43). OHRQoL at baseline was affected by the etiology of cognitive impairment and by the periodontal status (OHIP-G14). Improvement of OHRQoL was associated with the etiology of cognitive impairment (OHIP-G14) and the extent of dental treatment (OHIP-G5-easy). CONCLUSION: Self- and proxy-ratings revealed a significant improvement of OHRQoL in patients with intellectual disabilities after dental treatment in general anesthesia. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Assessment of OHRQoL promotes patient-centred care of adults with intellectual disabilities.