Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) on the child’s family structure. Methods: A representative sample of 613 children from public preschools, in a city in southeastern Brazil, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The sample was determined through probabilistic sampling in two stages (preschools and children). The outcome variable (Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale [ECOHIS]) was multi-categorized in children and family. Independent individual variables were sex, race, family income, parents’/caregivers’ level of education, family income, dental caries, and malocclusion. Initially, individual analyses were performed, relating the study variables to the outcome variables, estimating the raw odds ratio with the respective confidence intervals of 95%. The variables with p < 0.20 in the individual analyses were tested in the multiple logistic regression models, and those with p < 0.10 remained in the model. Results: Impact on OHRQoL was reported by 40.9% of the children and 17% of their families. Children with low family income and caries experience had, respectively, 1.53 (95% CI: 1.00-2.32) (p = 0.0465) and 2.96 (95% CI: 1.81-4.84) (p < 0.0001) more chance of presenting negative impact on OHRQoL. Conclusions: The aspects that most affected the OHRQoL of child’s family structure were low income and dental caries experience.
Highlights
Oral health-related problems can play an important role in social acceptance, resulting in functional limitations, mainly in more severe cases[1,2,3,4]
Children of families with income ≤ R$2000 were observed to have 1.39 (p = 0.0696) times more chance of presenting impact of oral health on quality of life
39.2% presented malocclusion, and those with caries experience had 3.37 (p < 0.0001) times more chance of presenting impact of oral health on quality of life
Summary
Oral health-related problems can play an important role in social acceptance, resulting in functional limitations, mainly in more severe cases[1,2,3,4]. Dental caries and malocclusion are the most common oral health-related problems in preschoolers and have been associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL2,6,7. Despite a significant reduction in the prevalence and severity of dental caries in Brazil in other age groups, 80% of affected teeth remain untreated in the primary dentition[7]. In this sense, caries disease, when left untreated, might lead to tooth loss, imposing functional limitations that have a negative impact on quality of life[6,8,9]. Studies have demonstrated the importance of detecting malocclusion in preschoolers as a prognostic action that allows for early treatment planning[6]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
