Dental trauma experience and oral-health-related quality of life among university students

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of self-reported dental trauma on oral-heath-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of young adults and determine whether personality characteristics influenced how it was reported. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out using a sample of 435 university students. A questionnaire sought data on previous dental trauma. OHRQoL was assessed using the short-form of the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14); the outcome being one or more impacts occurring ‘fairly often’/‘very often’. Personality was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). Results: The participation rate was 87.2%. Dental trauma experience was reported by 110 participants (25.3%), and 242 (55.6 %) indicated previous dental caries experience. Among those with dental trauma history, one or more OHIP-14 impacts was reported by 29.1% (with 21.2% among those with no history). Impact prevalence was higher among those who had previous dental caries experience (29.8%) than among those who had not (14.7%; P < 0.001). Higher PANAS negative affect scores were observed among those reporting one or more OHIP-14 impacts (P < 0.001). Conclusion: While dental trauma does not appear to have a negative impact on OHRQoL in young adults, past dental caries experience does. Negative emotionality influences self-reported oral health.