Burden-of-oral-disease studies have been hampered by lack ofdata on disability weights. It is likely that disability weightswill vary between conditions such as gingivitis and periodontalpockets. The aims of this study were to assess health-relatedquality of life and disability weights for periodontal conditions.A random sample of 45- to 54-year-olds was surveyed during 2004-05(n = 879, response rate = 43.8%), with oral examinations onn = 709 persons (completion rate = 80.7%). Oral disease symptomswere recorded by the EuroQol, from which disability weightswere calculated. Reported pain/discomfort ranged from 6.1% ofpersons (gingivitis) to 25.8% of persons (6+ mm pockets). Lowerdisability weights were associated with gingivitis (0.001) and6+ mm gingival recession (0.004), with higher weights for 6+mm loss of attachment (0.012) and 6+ mm pocket depth (0.018).Variation in symptom experience indicated the need for investigatorsto identify periodontal conditions and apply appropriate disabilityweights in burden-of-disease studies.
