Abstract
This study aimed to assess the impact of dental caries’ severity, body mass index (BMI), and sociodemographic factors on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) for special health care needs (SHCN) children and the suitability of their caregivers as proxies to determine OHRQoL. This cross-sectional study recruited 107 pairs of SHCN children and their caregivers and asked them to complete a questionnaire on sociodemographic issues as well as the Arabic version of the early childhood oral health impact scale (A-ECOHIS). This was followed by a dental examination. Dental caries was measured using the dmft/DMFT index, while caries’ severity was also determined. The children’s height and weight were measured, and BMI (kg/m2) was recorded. Data were analyzed statistically using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Poisson regression models. Our results revealed that the A-ECOHIS score was 10.93, while the OHRQoL was affected in 95.3% of children. The most-reported item was ‘pain in the teeth, mouth, or jaws’ (48.7%). By regression analysis, caries-free children (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.650) or those who had moderate caries (OR: 0.551) were less likely to have a negative impact on their OHRQoL than those with severe caries. Additionally, those whose caregivers had a maximum primary education (OR: 0.656) or whose occupation was in the health sector (OR: 0.721) were less likely to have a negative impact on their OHRQoL. Those who were ≤ 6 years old (OR: 1.188) were more likely to have a negative impact. BMI did not have a significant impact on the OHRQoL of the children. Further, we detected a significant positive correlation between children’s dmft/DMFT scores and the A-ECOHIS scores reported by the mothers. Given these variables, which included dental caries’ severity, but not BMI, and caregivers’ education level and occupation, plus the child’s age group, we found a significant impact on the OHRQoL. However, we found that mothers were better proxies for their children’s OHRQoL.
Highlights
Dental caries was present in 93.5% of the children, and 81.3% of those had severe caries
The greatest score was for children with congenital heart disease (9.52 ± 6.15), followed by children with down syndrome (7.00 ± 5.00), while the lowest score was for children with bleeding disorders (5.77 ± 3.91)
Thisstudy studyisisthe thefirst firsttotoassess assessthe theimpact impactofofdental dentalcaries cariesseverity, severity,sociodemographic sociodemographic. This variables, and of a subpopulation of children and to assess the variables, and body mass index (BMI) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of a subpopulation of special health care needs (SHCN) children and to assess suitability of caregivers as proxy assessors of the the suitability of caregivers as proxy assessors of the OHRQoL of SHCN chilThe A-early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS), whichwhich was validated in Saudi was chosen as the study dren
Summary
Compromised children in this category were reported to suffer a greater risk of oral diseases throughout their lives [2], as well as unmet dental needs, for those who are more medically complex, with an increased risk for systemic and internal family barriers in finding care, based on their medical diagnoses. Those children, along with the majority of SHCN children, cannot understand, assume responsibility for, or cooperate with preventive oral health practices [3]. Few studies have linked dental caries with obesity in these children [8]
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