SELF-PERCEPTION OF SMILE AESTHETICS AND ORAL HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PERUVIAN ADOLESCENTS

Objetive: To assess how adolescents’ self-perception of smile aesthetics (SSA) is related to their oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL). Material and Methods: Cross-sectional analytical study carried out in a sample of 270 adolescents from 12 to 18 years old (mean age: 14.91 ± 1.98) attending a public school in Lima, Peru. Two questionnaires on the Smile Perception Impact-related Quality of Life (SPIRQoL) and the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) were translated and adapted demonstrating their validity (Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin ≥ 0.9; Bartlett Test p< 0.001) and reliability (α ≥ 0.893) before being applied in person. The Mann-Whitney U, Chi square and Spearman correlation statistical tests were used to examine variable relationships at p<0.05. Results: The majority of adolescents had a positive SSA (88.9%) and a low OHIP-14 score (58.5%). The SPIRQoL score was 13 [IQR = 14] and the OHIP-14 score was 5 [IQR = 12]. The SPIRQoL score was not associated with age (p≥ 0.05) but was higher in women than in men (p= 0.025). The OHIP-14 score was similar by sex and age. A high positive correlation was found between the total and the partial scores adjusted for sex and age between the SPIRQoL and the OHIP-14 (rho = 0.665-0.666; p< 0.01). Conclusions: SSA and OHRQoL in adolescents were found to be highly related, regardless of sex and age.