Analysis of the oral-health-related quality of life of parents and that of their adolescent children before attending a first dental consultation among a sample from Salamanca (Spain): a cross-sectional study

Background: The concept of oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) encompasses patients’ subjective perceptions of their oral health status and emotional well-being. Several factors have been reported that can influence the adolescents’ OHRQoL, including dental caries, malocclusion, and the parental educational and socioeconomic levels. Parents significantly influence their children’s oral health and development. However, the relationship between parents’ and adolescents’ OHRQoL remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between the OHRQoL of parents and their adolescent children in a population from Salamanca, Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Dental Clinic of the University of Salamanca (Spain) between 2023 and 2025. A total of 130 adolescents (aged 11–14 years) who had never attended a dental consultation and their parents were recruited. Parents completed the Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), while adolescents completed the Spanish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ-Esp11−14). Correlations between parents’ and adolescents’ OHRQoL scores were assessed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient (rho). Results: The mean age of the participating adolescents was 12.55 ± 1.43 years (girls: 50%; boys: 50%), and the mean age of the was 43.2 ± 3.32 years. The mean score for the individual domains of the CPQ-Esp11−14 was 17.4 ± 3.6. Higher scores in the psychological discomfort dimension of the OHIP-14 were significantly correlated with more negative OHRQoL outcomes in the functional limitation (rho = 0.16), emotional well-being (rho = 0.16) and social well-being (rho = 0.17) dimensions of the CPQ-Esp11−14 (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study observed a significant relationship between the psychological discomfort dimension of the OHIP-14 in parents and the OHRQoL of their adolescent children.

Associated factors; Child impact; Children; Family impact; Oral health; Parents; Quality of life

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