Edentulism and quality of life in the Salvadoran population: a cross-sectional study

The impact of edentulism on quality of life was determined in 3322 users of the Public Health System of El Salvador aged 15 to > 60 years. Edentulism was determined by clinical examination using the Oral Impact on Daily Performance scale. We used χ ² tests and set the significance threshold at p < 0.05. The calculation of percentages, means, and standard deviations and multiple regression analysis were performed with SPSS v. 26.0. Partial edentulism in the upper jaw was present in 2269 people (68.24%), partial edentulism in the lower jaw was present in 2408 people (72.42%) and complete edentulism was observed in 67 people (2.02%). There were significant sex differences and a relationship between sex and quality of life (p < 0.004); the self-perception of severe/very severe impacts was greater in women. People without education or with primary or secondary education only were the most affected (p < 0.05). Tooth loss increases with age, affecting quality of life in a severe/very severe manner. Complete edentulism had greater impacts on quality of life in terms of eating (25.64%), speaking (21.15%), and socializing/enjoying contact with people (10.90%). A severe/very severe impact on quality of life of teeth lost was reported mainly by those over 60 years of age, with an average of 11 missing posterior teeth, 6 missing anterior teeth and 13 missing teeth per patient. Those missing up to 6 anterior teeth were 5.78 times more likely to perceive severe/very severe impacts on quality of life than those without any missing teeth. Edentulism affected the quality of life of those examined, especially the loss of upper anterior teeth.