Caries prevalence and severity, and quality of life in Brazilian 2- to 4-year-old children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of caries and severe caries on preschool children's quality of life. Data from 765 2- to 4-year-old children attending a statutory National Day of Children's Vaccination in Macapá (Northern Brazil) were analysed. Caries and severe caries were indicated by the dmfs and pufa indices, respectively. Parents completed a questionnaire including questions on socioeconomic factors and the impact of oral conditions on their children's quality of life using the Brazilian version of the Parental Perceptions Questionnaire for preschool children. Logistic regression was used to test the unadjusted and adjusted associations of caries and severe caries with different aspects of children's quality of life. Sixty-two and five per cent of children had dental caries (dmfs index > 0) and severe caries (pufa index > 0), respectively. In the adjusted models, having caries was significantly related to toothache and problems eating certain foods as well as to be absent from school and ashamed to smile, whereas having severe caries was significantly related to toothache and problems eating certain foods only. Neither caries nor severe caries was related to stop playing with other children. This study shows that caries and severe caries may have a considerable impact on some aspects of preschool children's quality of life.