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 Oral Health and Quality of Life
Diseases and disorders that damage the mouth and face can disturb well-being and self-esteem. The effect of oral health and disease on quality of life is a relatively new field of research that examines the
functional, psychological, social, and economic consequences of oral disorders. Most of the research has focused on a
few conditions: tooth loss, craniofacial birth defects, oral-facial pain, and oral cancer.
The impact of oral health on an individual’s quality of life reflects complex social
norms and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions. There is a long tradition
of determining character on the basis of facial and head shapes. Although cultures
differ in detail, there appear to be overall consistencies in the judgment of facial
beauty and deformity that are learned early in life. Faces judged ugly have been
associated with defects in character, intelligence, and morals.
The Impact of Craniofacial-Oral-Dental Conditions on Quality of Life
Missing teeth
People who have many missing teeth face a diminished quality of life. Not only do they have to limit food choices because of chewing problems, which may result in nutritionally poor diets,
but many feel a degree of embarrassment and self-consciousness that limits social
interaction and communication.
Craniofacial birth defects
Children with cleft lip or cleft palate experience not
only problems with eating, breathing, and speaking, but also have difficulties adjusting socially, which affects their learning and behavior. The tendency to “judge a book by its cover” persists in the world today and accounts for many of the psychosocial
problems of persons affected by craniofacial birth defects.
Oral-facial pain
The craniofacial region is rich in nerve endings sensitive to painful stimuli, so it is not surprising that oral-facial pain, especially chronic pain conditions where the cause is not understood and
control is inadequate, severely affects quality of life. Conditions such as temporomandibular (jaw joint) disorders, trigeminal neuralgia, and postherpetic neuralgia (chronic pain following an attack of shingles affecting facial nerves) can disrupt vital functions such as chewing, swallowing,
and sleep; interfere with normal activities at home or work; and lead to social
withdrawal and depression.
Oral Cancer
Surgical treatment for oral cancer may result in permanent
disfigurement as well as functional limitations affecting speaking and eating. Given the
poor prognosis for oral cancer (the five-year survival rate is only 52 percent), it is
not surprising that depression is common in these patients.
Economic Costs
- Recent estimates put the lifetime costs
of the multiple surgeries and other medical, dental, and rehabilitation therapies for
treating cleft lip or cleft palate at a minimum of $100,000.
- The overall cost of chronic pain conditions in America was estimated to be $79 billion
a decade ago. Given the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders and headaches, the amount representing chronic oral-facial pain would certainly be in the billions.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated in 1988 that 16.2
years of life were lost per person dying of oral cancer. This exceeds the average for
all cancer sites, which was 15.4 years lost.
For more information,
contact:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Oral Health, MS F-10
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Atlanta, GA 30341
1-888-CDC-2306
http://www.cdc.gov
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
National Institutes of Health
Building 45, Room 4AS-19
45 Center Drive MSC 6400
Bethesda, MD 20892-6400
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
If you have questions or comments, e-mail:ccdinfo@cdc.gov
Related Links
From the Office of the Surgeon General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 2000
Historical Document
Page last modified: October 4, 2004
Content source:
Division of Oral Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and
Health Promotion |
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