The sensitivity and responsiveness of an oral health related quality of life measure to tooth whitening.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the sensitivity and responsiveness of an oral health related quality of life measure to tooth whitening.


METHODS
Following screening at a clinic, 87 subjects were given an array of tooth whitening products to use at home and reviewed 8 weeks later. Subjects self-completed the 49-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) at baseline and follow-up, and rated their satisfaction with the whiteness of their teeth compared to baseline on a global transition scale.


RESULTS
In terms of sensitivity, observed changes were apparent in overall OHIP scores (P<0.05) and across several domains, notably functional limitation (P<0.01). However, the magnitude of change (effect size) was generally small except for the functional domain. There was an observed gradient in observed change in OHIP scores and in the magnitude of such changes (effect sizes) in relation to global rating of satisfaction with the outcome, supporting the responsiveness of the measure.


CONCLUSIONS
The OHIP scale is sensitive and responsive to the effects of tooth whitening. Greatest sensitivity and responsiveness was in relation to functional limitations. These findings have implications for the use of oral health related quality of life measures as an outcome measure of interventions aimed at improving dental aesthetics through tooth whitening.
McGrath
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Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Hong Kong, China. mcgrathc@hkucc.hku.hk
Wong
A H H
AH
Lo
E C M
EC
Cheung
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CS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D016877:Oxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D016877:Oxidants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide