Aqsa Arif¹, Mahr Afroz Khanum^1*, Aamna Naeem¹, Anusha Khan², Nawal Fatima¹, Sadia Shakeel³, Altaf Shah⁴

¹University College of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

²FMH College of Medicine & Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan

³Department of Oral Biology, De’Montmorency College of Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan

⁴Department of Community Dental Sciences, Marquette University School of Dentistry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

*Corresponding address: University College of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan

Email: mehar.r.khan@gmail.com   

Received: 03 October 2025 / Revised: 02 November 2025 / Accepted: 21 November 2025 / Available Online: 15 December 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63137/jsteam.823213

ABSTRACT

Objective: Aging has a profound impact on oral health, contributing to diminished functional capacity and reduced quality of life. Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) is increasingly recognized as a public health concern, yet limited data exist for the geriatric population in Pakistan. To evaluate oral health needs and OHRQoL in the geriatric population in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dental Teaching Hospital, University of Lahore, from September 2023 to January 2024 using non-probability sampling. Clinical oral health status was assessed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and the Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE). OHRQoL was measured using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), and oral health needs were evaluated using the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) to complement clinical findings with a comprehensive assessment of oral conditions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Statistical tests included Pearson correlation, independent-sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc correction. Effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals were reported.

Results: A total of 170 geriatric patients were included. The mean DMFT score was 10.29 ± 5.86, with a mean of 6.14 ± 5.17 missing teeth, and the mean BPE score was 2.41 ± 0.61. Poor oral cleanliness was significantly associated with higher BPE scores (p = 0.003, r = 0.32), and missing teeth were associated with increased dental pain (p = 0.004, r = 0.28). Lower education correlated with lower GOHAI scores (p = 0.003, η² = 0.07). The mean GOHAI score was 38.14 ± 3.53, indicating moderate OHRQoL.

Conclusion: Geriatric patients demonstrated high levels of dental caries, tooth loss, and periodontal disease, all of which contributed to reduced OHRQoL. Strengthening preventive care, oral hygiene education, restorative services, and gerodontology training is essential to improve oral health outcomes and enhance the quality of life of older adults, particularly those from underserved groups.

Keywords: DMF index; Geriatric dentistry; Oral health; Periodontal index; Quality of life

Data Availability: The data supporting this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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How to Cite: Arif A, Khanum MA, Naeem A, Khan A, Fatima N, Shakeel S, et al. Evaluating Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) and Oral Health Needs of Geriatric Patients. J Sci Technol Educ Art Med. 2025;2(2):21-28