Oral health status and oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study of clients in an Australian opioid treatment program

Grace Wong; Venkatesha Venkatesha; Mark Enea Montebello; Angela Masoe; Kyle Cheng; Hannah Cook; Bonny Puszka; Anna Cheng

doi:10.1071/PY24021

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Oral health status and oral health-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study of clients in an Australian opioid treatment program

Grace Wong

^A ^B ^C ^D ^* , Venkatesha Venkatesha ^E , Mark Enea Montebello ^F ^G ^H , Angela Masoe ^I , Kyle Cheng ^A ^B , Hannah Cook ^F , Bonny Puszka ^F and Anna Cheng ^A

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Primary and Community Health, Oral Health Services, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^B Sydney Dental School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^C School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia.

^D Oral Health, School of Health, Medical and Applied Science, CQUniversity, Rockhampton, Qld, Australia.

^E Research Strategy, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^F Drug and Alcohol Services, Northern Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^G Specialty of Addiction Medicine, Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^H National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

^I Centre for Oral Health Strategy, NSW Health, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: grace.wong4@health.nsw.gov.au

Australian Journal of Primary Health 30, PY24021 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY24021

Submitted: 5 March 2024 Accepted: 12 August 2024 Published: 30 August 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Individuals with opioid dependence often experience poor oral health, including dental decay, periodontal disease and mucosal infection, frequently exacerbated by factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, inadequate oral hygiene and low utilisation of oral health services. This study aimed to assess oral health status and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among opioid-dependent individuals and explore their potential associations.

Methods

Participants enrolled in an opioid treatment program (OTP) at three Australian urban clinics were assessed using the validated Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14).

Results

The average age of the 75 participants was 44.7 years, with 45% receiving opioid treatment for over 5 years. Dental decay and inadequate oral hygiene were prevalent. Mean OHAT and OHIP-14 scores were 6.93 and 20.95 respectively, indicating moderate oral health severity and poor OHRQoL. Physical pain and psychological discomfort significantly impacted participants’ quality of life, with the effects being particularly pronounced for those aged 30 and above. An exploratory analysis revealed a strong correlation between OHAT and OHIP-14 severity scores, with a one-point increase in OHAT associated with 1.85 times higher odds of a lower OHRQoL (odds ratio = 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.38–2.49, P = <0.001).

Conclusions

These findings underscore the multifaceted impact of oral health on the well-being of OTP clients. Routine dental check-ups, education on oral hygiene practices and timely treatment for oral health problems are crucial recommendations based on this study. Such measures hold the potential to enhance the quality of life for individuals attending OTPs.

Keywords: dental caries, opioid dependence, opioid treatment program, opioid-related disorder, oral health, oral health assessment tool, oral health impact profile, oral health-related quality of life, periodontal disease.

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