Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the family impacts of severe dental caries among children. Data from 3859 school-age children (5-, 8-, 12- and 15-year-olds) who participated in the 2013 Children’s Dental Health Survey, a national cross-sectional survey in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, were used. Severe dental caries was defined as having at least one tooth with pulpal involvement, ulceration, fistula, or abscess (PUFA). Family impacts were measured using seven items of the Family Impact Scale (FIS). The association between severe dental caries and family impacts was assessed in logistic regression models, adjusting for child’s age, gender, and country of residence; parent’s marital status, education, and job classification; and area deprivation. Severe dental caries among children showed a significant negative impact on family life (Odds Ratio: 6.00; 95% Confidence Interval: 3.34–10.78). Parents of children with severe dental caries had greater odds of taking time off work (OR: 2.75; 95% CI: 1.16–6.54), reporting the child needed more attention (OR: 4.08; 95% CI: 2.15–7.75), feeling guilty (OR: 6.32; 95% CI: 3.26–12.26), feeling stressed (OR: 7.34; 95% CI: 4.15–12.99), having normal activities disrupted (OR: 5.78; 95% CI: 2.71–12.34), and having sleep disrupted (OR: 4.94; 95% CI: 2.78–8.76). Having severe dental caries was not associated with financial difficulties in the family (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 0.49–5.51). The observed association between severe dental caries and family impacts was independent of child and family sociodemographic characteristics. The findings underscore the importance of preventive interventions to avoid severe dental caries in children and subsequently reduce negative impacts on their family life.
Highlights
Dental caries is the most common oral condition in childhood [1,2]
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that dental caries affects around 60–90% of children at school age, which negatively affects the quality of life of children and their families [3]
Almost thirty percent of parents (29.5%) reported impacts on family life due to their child’s oral health, with the most frequent family impacts relating to taking time off work (15.5%), feeling stressed (14.2%), child needing more attention (13.4%), and feeling guilty (10.4%), and the least frequent impacts relating to financial difficulties (2.4%), normal activities disrupted (6.1%), and sleep disrupted (7.4%)
Summary
Dental caries is the most common oral condition in childhood [1,2]. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that dental caries affects around 60–90% of children at school age, which negatively affects the quality of life of children and their families [3]. Poor socioeconomic circumstances of the family exacerbate the development and progress of dental caries [4,5,6,7]. These diagnostic criteria do not accurately reflect the consequences of untreated dental caries [11]. The count of teeth with pulpal involvement, ulcers, fistula, or abscess (PUFA) has been recommended to record the sequelae of dental caries when left untreated [11,12]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
