Abstract The aim of the present study was to verify if clinical signs of gingivitis such as color changes, edema, and bleeding in the anterior region influence the OHRQoL of adolescents. We followed a cross-sectional convenience sample of 67 adolescents aged 11 to 16 years receiving dental treatment at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), in southern Brazil.

The participants were evaluated for the following clinical variables:

edema, gingival color alteration, and marginal bleeding of the gingival tissues, collected at 6 sites per tooth in the anterior region of the mouth. Socioeconomic variables were collected through questionnaires and OHRQoL was evaluated through the Brazilian version of the Children Perception Questionnaire (CPQ 11-14) short form. A Poisson regression model was used to verify associations between clinical variables and general CPQ11-14 scores. In the unadjusted analysis, edema, color alterations, and marginal bleeding in the anterior region were associated with worse scores of OHRQoL. Edema and marginal bleeding remained associated after adjusting for clinical and sociodemographic variables. Adolescents with higher levels of marginal bleeding and edema in the anterior region had higher mean CPQ11-14 scores. Therefore, the presence of bleeding and gingival edema in the anterior region can be considered clinical signs of gingivitis that are associated with a worse OHRQoL in adolescents.