Oral Health-Related Quality of Life - Dental Public Health Perspective

Oral-health-related quality of life is a concept that was initially given in 1978 highlighting the relationship between the mouth and patients' quality of life. Oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is defined as that part of a person's quality of life that is affected by this person's oral health. Specifically OHRQoL considers how oral health affects the person's functioning (biting chewing speaking) sensations of pain/discomfort and psychological (appearance self-esteem) and social well-being. OHRQoL is usually assessed by asking patients or research subjects questions concerning the four aspects of their quality of life or having close relatives or caregivers answer these questions for the patients. OHRQoL focuses clinicians' attention on the patient as a whole and thus fosters genuinely patient-centered care. Exploration of the attributes about this concept especially relating it to Dental Public Health becomes important so as to ensure appropriate Oral Health Care to the masses.