OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) related to dental status. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One thousand four hundred sixty-two Chinese subjects over 40 years, dentate in both jaws, were categorized in a hierarchical functional classification system with and without tooth replacements. OHIP-14CN scores were used to assess OHRQoL and analyzed using multivariable logistic regression including five dental conditions ('≥10 teeth in each jaw'; 'complete anterior regions'; 'sufficient premolar regions' (≥3 posterior occluding pairs (POPs)); 'sufficient molar regions' (bilaterally ≥1 POP); and tooth replacement) after adjustment for five background variables. Likelihood ratios for impaired OHRQoL (OHIP total score ≥5) were assessed at each level of the classification system. RESULTS: In the hierarchical scheme, OHIP-14CN total scores were highest in branch '<10 teeth in each jaw' (8.5 ± 9.5 to 12.3 ± 13.2). In branch '≥10 teeth' scores ranged from 6.2 ± 7.7 to 8.3 ± 9.3. The most important dental condition discriminating for impact on OHRQoL was '≥10 teeth in each jaw' (Likelihood ratio 1.59). In this branch subsequent levels were discriminative for impaired OHRQoL (Likelihoods 1.29-1.69), in the branch '<10 teeth in each jaw' they were not (Likelihoods 0.99-1.04). Tooth replacements were perceived poorer as their natural counterparts (odd ratios, 1.30 for fixed and 1.47 for removable appliances). CONCLUSIONS: OHRQoL was strongly associated with the presence of at least 10 teeth in each jaw. The hierarchical classification system predicted approximately 60 % of subjects correctly with respect to impaired OHRQoL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: From an OHRQoL perspective, natural teeth were preferred over artificial teeth.