To evaluate the influence of clinical status and socio-economic condition, of family environment and subjective perceptions of the parents and children on their general and oral health condition.
Materials and method:The study was developed on 120 adolescents, 72 girls (60%) and 48 boys (40%). Oral status was evaluated clinically, while parents and teenagers perception on their life quality was determined by means of a questionnaire.
Results: 107 subjects (89.16%) showed carious lesions; the mean value of the DMFT index was of 3.78 (SD:0.48), and of the dmft index – of 0.92 (SD:1.13). The value of SiC index was 4.23. Teenagers have a better perception on their own oral health condition than their parents. A statistically significant association may be established between life quality and the DMFT value, the dental caries treatment need, gingival bleeding and the orthodontic treatments, the association being stronger for gingival bleeding and the orthodontic treatment need for all domains.
Conclusions: Oral health, and especially the way in which this compound of the general health condition is perceived, has a considerable impact upon the life quality of teenagers.