Periodontitis and quality of life: What is the role of socioeconomic status, sense of coherence, dental service use and oral health practices? An exploratory theory-guided analysis on a Norwegian population.

AIM: To utilise Andersen's behavioural model for health services' use as the theoretical framework to examine direct and indirect relationships between population characteristics, oral health behaviours and periodontitis and oral health impacts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The model was tested in a general adult population (n = 1,886) in Norway, using structural equation modelling. Socioeconomic status, sense of coherence (SOC), dental anxiety, perceived treatment need, oral health behaviours and oral health impact profile (OHIP-14) were collected through questionnaire. Periodontal examinations consisted of full-mouth recordings.

RESULTS: Andersen's model explained a large part of the variance in use of dental services (58%) and oral health-related impacts (55%), and to a less extent periodontitis (19%). More social structure and stronger SOC was related to more enabling resources, which in turn was associated with more use of dental services. More use of dental services was related to more periodontitis and more periodontitis was associated with increased oral health impacts. A stronger SOC was associated with less oral impacts. There was no association between use of dental services and oral health impacts.

CONCLUSIONS: The result demonstrated complex relationships between population characteristics, oral health-related behaviours and oral health outcomes. Socioeconomic factors and smoking were main predictors of periodontitis. Regular dental visiting habits did not, however, reduce the likelihood of periodontitis.