Association between thyroid disorders and oral health: OHRQoL, KAP and self-rated oral health assessment-A structural equation modelling approach

Thyroid disorders influence oral health through metabolic, immune, and behavioural changes, affecting oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This cross-sectional study among 254 patients with thyroid disorders in Tamil Nadu evaluated OHRQoL, knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP), and self-rated oral health (SROH) using validated Tamil tools. Participants exhibited moderate knowledge and practices, positive attitudes, and moderate OHRQoL impairment. Knowledge showed positive correlations with attitude and practice but a negative relationship with SROH. Regression analysis identified knowledge, thyroid type, and disease duration as significant predictors of OHRQoL. Structural equation modelling confirmed acceptable model fit (χ²/df=3.289; RMSEA=0.095; CFI=0.907) and revealed interrelations among behavioural, perceptual, and clinical domains. Integrating oral health education and routine dental screening into endocrine care may improve oral and systemic health outcomes in this population.