Sense of coherence buffers the burden of dental caries and gingivitis on quality of life during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the moderating effect of Sense of Coherence (SOC) on the relationship between oral clinical conditions and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) during pregnancy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Santa Maria, Brazil, with a random sample of pregnant women receiving care at public health services. OHRQoL was assessed using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14), while SOC was measured with the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13). Additional variables included demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, dental caries (D component of the DMFT index), and gingivitis (assessed using the CPI index). The associations were analyzed using multilevel Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 520 pregnant women participated (93% response rate). The mean OHIP-14 score was 9.9 ± 8.9. Poorer oral health conditions were significantly associated with worse OHRQoL. Notably, among participants with dental caries and gingivitis, those with lower SOC levels experienced a negative impact on OHRQoL more than twice as high as their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that SOC moderates the adverse effects of poor oral health on OHRQoL in pregnant women. Specifically, lower SOC levels amplify the negative impact of dental caries and gingivitis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These results underscore the importance of SOC as a psychosocial factor influencing oral health perceptions during pregnancy. Strengthening SOC may serve as a valuable strategy to mitigate the impact of poor oral health on daily life in this vulnerable population.