Dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life among pregnant women: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between dental anxiety and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among pregnant women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with pregnant women attended at public health services in a Southern Brazilian city. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. The OHRQoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) was used to assess the level of dental anxiety. Dental caries was assessed by the Decayed, Missing and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) index and gingivitis was evaluated by the Gingival Bleeding Index (GBI). Poisson regression models were used to assess the association of dental anxiety and OHIP-14 scores. The results are presented as Means Ratio (MR) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The sample comprised 256 pregnant women. The mean total OHIP-14 score was 8.74 (± 9.00). The average scores from specific domains ranged from 0.66 (functional limitation) to 2.20 (psychological discomfort). Pregnant women with dental anxiety (DAS ³15) have 36% higher OHIP-14 scores (MR 1.36; CI95% 1.02-1.78) showing poorer OHRQoL. Besides, participants with gingivitis have also higher OHIP-14 scores (MR 1.34; CI 95% 1.00-1.78). Conclusion: The present study showed that pregnant women with dental anxiety and those with gingivitis were more likely to report a poorer OHRQoL.