Abstract
BackgroundOral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) could be affected not only by oral health but also by demographic and ecosocial factors. This research aimed to analyze the sociodemographic and clinical factors that may influence the OHRQoL of 12-year-old children.MethodsA representative sample was selected from Hong Kong. Periodontal status and caries were examined according to WHO criteria. Four orthodontic indices were used to assess malocclusion. Child Perception Questionnaires (CPQ11–14-ISF:8 and CPQ11–14-RSF:8) including four domains, namely oral symptoms (OS), functional limitations (FL), emotional well-being (EWB), and social well-being (SWB), were used to measure OHRQoL. Adjusted OR was calculated by ordinal logistic regression.ResultsTotally 589 eligible subjects (305 females, 284 males) were recruited. Males tended to rank higher in OS domain but lower in EWB domain (adjusted OR = 1.89 and 0.67). Mother’s education was linked more closely with children’s CPQ scores. Higher education levels were associated with better quality of life (adjusted OR = 0.45 and 0.37). Household income showed no effect on CPQ scores. Unhealthy periodontal conditions had a negative effect on EWB and total CPQ (adjusted OR = 1.61 and 1.63). High caries experience only had a negative effect on SWB (adjusted OR = 1.60). Malocclusion affected FL, EWB, SWB and total CPQ: all malocclusion severities affected SWB; only severe malocclusions affected FL, EWB and total CPQ.ConclusionMales were more tolerant of oral symptoms than females were. Higher levels of mother’s education led to better OHRQoL of their children. Unhealthy periodontal conditions affected emotional well-being, while high caries experience affected social well-being. All malocclusion severities had an effect on social well-being; severe malocclusion further caused functional limitations, worse emotional well-being, and hence worse OHRQoL.
Highlights
Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) could be affected by oral health and by demographic and ecosocial factors
The effects of sociodemographic and clinical factors on OHRQoL were analyzed with parameters set as follows: 1. Dependent variables: for bivariate analysis, dependent variables were set as the scores of oral symptoms (OS), functional limitations (FL), emotional well-being (EWB), social well-being (SWB) and total child perceptions questionnaire (CPQ); for ordinal regression, dependent variables were set by grouping these scores into four ranks with quartile values as cut-off points
Unhealthy periodontal conditions had a negative effect on EWB and CPQ ranks (ISF:8), which was the same with the result of bivariate analysis; high caries experience only had a significant effect on SWB rank (RSF:8), but not on total CPQ
Summary
Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) could be affected by oral health and by demographic and ecosocial factors. Clinical techniques in dentistry have been developed rapidly The aim of these techniques is to give subjects a better life experience. Researchers are focusing on dental fear, treatment expectations and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). A hypothesis is that subjects’ OHRQoL is affected by oral health status and by other demographic and ecosocial factors. With different education levels and financial situations may put different emphases on their dental care. Those with limited concern of oral health protection may suffer more from dental diseases, worse OHRQoL
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