A Survey of Oral Health-related Quality of Life for Adults With Cerebral Palsy in Australia

Abstract

Objective: Our aim was to investigate the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and dental care experiences of adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Methods: In 2023, adults with CP and their caregivers from four Australian states completed questionnaires, including the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14). Non-parametric tests were conducted to analyze associations between demographic and CP-related variables and OHRQoL. Results: A total of 69 respondents participated, including n = 22 adults with CP and n = 47 caregivers of adults with CP. Most adults with CP were diagnosed with a spastic motor type (46/69, 66%), with bilateral spasticity being the most common (30/46, 65%). The mean OHIP-14 score was 10.3 ± 9.3 (mean ± SD). Nearly 70% reported challenges cleaning their teeth, over 25% lacked a dentist, more than 60% found dental exams challenging, and nearly 50% required specialized dental care. In bivariate analysis, OHIP-14 was associated with daily oral care routines (p = 0.012) and “simple dental check-up” (p = 0.017). There was a statistically significant relationship between socio-economic status and scores for the handicap dimension (p = 0.040). Higher OHIP-14 scores were associated with greater levels of impairment regarding gross motor (p = 0.199), manual functioning limitations (p = 0.001), speech (p = 0.123), and communication function scales (p = 0.319). Conclusion: Adults with CP reported challenges participating in and maintaining oral health and accessing dental care, influenced by physical, functional, and socio-economic factors. These findings indicate the need for inclusive care and strategies to support access to services.