Influence of oral health on quality of life in pregnant women.

This study evaluated the relationships between oral conditions and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), as well as related factors. A crosssectional study was performed on 119 postnatal women who had sought prenatal care during pregnancy in the public health system of São Paulo State, Brazil. The women received oral clinical exams and were interviewed using the questions on the OHIP14. A second survey with information about their socioeconomic status, pregnancy and health habits was administered. The highest OHIP14 scores were found in the area of physical pain, with an average score of 10.6. Average DMFT rate for the population was 12.2 (±6.1), with the majority having DMFT ≥4.5 (89.9%). Most of the women needed some type of dental prosthesis (59.7%), had some type of periodontal disease (90.8%), tooth decay (73.9%), missing teeth (64.7%) and were in need of oral treatment (68.1%). The OHIP14 scores were significantly associated with age (p=0.02), first pregnancy (p<0.001), need for dental prosthesis (p<0.001), presence of dental caries (p<0.001) and missing teeth (p=0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the worst OHRQoL was significantly associated with the presence of caries (p=0.03). The results suggest an association between the worst oral condition and poorer quality of life during pregnancy. This risk group should be prioritized in the health services in order to treat and recover the oral health of pregnant women, promoting better oral health conditions and better quality of life for their children.