Oral Health-related Quality Of Life Of Preschool Children Research Articles

Impact of Caries Experience on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Pre-school Children and their Families in an Indian City - An Evaluative Study.

The presence of dental caries may have a negative impact on well-being of children and their parents, causing pain and discomfort, leading to poor oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different levels of caries experience on the OHRQoL of pre-school children and their families in Odisha, assessed using Odia version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (Od-ECOHIS). A cross-sectional survey was carried out on a sample of 369 pre-school children using Od-ECOHIS. Dental caries was recorded using International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) index. The total score of ECOHIS ranged from 0 to 42 with a mean of 2.4 (±5.3) and a median score of 0. The items bearing high mean scores in the child impact section were related to "pain", "difficulty in drinking hot or cold beverages", "difficulty in eating some food", and "irritable or frustrated". Though half of children (50.4%) had cavitated carious lesions, the prevalence of negative impact was 30.6%. Compared to the child being caries-free, the expected count of total Od-ECOHIS score increased by 1.54 times if the child had white spot lesion and 1.94 times if the child had a cavitated lesion. Presence of dental carious lesions has a significant impact on OHRQoL of pre-school children and their families measured by using Od-ECOHIS even after adjusting for SES and caregivers' perception of their children's oral health.

Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQOL) of preschool children’s anterior teeth restored with zirconia crowns versus resin-bonded composite strip crowns: a 12-month prospective clinical trial

ObjectivesTo compare oral health–related quality of Life (OHRQOL) of preschool children’s anterior teeth restored with prefabricated zirconia crowns (ZC) versus resin-bonded composite strip crown (RCSC).Materials and methodsA prospective clinical trial included 136 children with early childhood caries aged 36–71 months who were assigned into prefabricated ZC and RCSC groups. A total of 344 teeth were restored either with 170 ZCs (49.4%) and 174 RCSCs (50.6%). Wilson and Cleary’s conceptual model was to associate the study predictors to the OHRQOL. Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was used to assess the OHRQOL at 6 and 12 months. Mann–Whitney U test was used in comparing OHRQOL mean scores in the two groups and Wilcoxon signed-rank test with the effect size (r) to measure the intragroup OHRQOL change. A Poisson regression model was used to study potential risk factors associated with the overall OHRQOL.ResultsAfter 12 months, the USPHS parameters of the ZC were significantly superior compared to the RCSC. Overall ECOHIS mean scores in the ZC group were significantly lower than that of the RCSC group at T1 and T2 (p < 0.001). Remarkable enhancement of the OHRQOL at the follow-ups with a large effect size (r < 0.8) was observed. Restoration type, retention, baseline OHRQOL, and color had a significant impact on the overall OHRQOL at 12 months.ConclusionsPreschool children OHRQOL treated with ZC were significantly better than those who received RCSC.Clinical relevanceOne of the optimum treatment standards in pediatric dentistry is the esthetic demand which has significance on the child’s OHRQOL and subsequently child’s general health quality of life. It is beneficial to the dentist to identify the influence of esthetic restorations on the OHRQOL of preschool children which aids in future decision-making. The longitudinal nature of the study enables the dentist to identify the changes of children’s OHRQOL.

Malocclusion Impact Scale for Early Childhood (MIS-EC): development and validation.

This study aimed to develop and validate the Malocclusion Impact Scale for Early Childhood (MIS-EC), a malocclusion-specific measure of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children aged 3-5 years and their parents/caregivers. A pool of items was analysed to identify those relevant to the assessment of the impact of malocclusion on OHRQoL. Dental professionals and mothers of children with and without malocclusion rated the importance of these items. The final version of the MIS-EC was evaluated in a cross-sectional study comprising 381 parents of children aged 3-5 years to assess construct validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Twenty-two items were identified from item pooling. After item reduction, eight items were chosen to constitute the MIS-EC, in addition to two general questions. The MIS-EC demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.79 for the Child Impact section and 0.53 for the Family Impact section), and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.94), floor effect was 55.7% and ceiling effect 0%. MIS-EC scores indicating worse OHRQoL were significantly associated with the presence of malocclusion (p < 0.05). The MIS-EC is reliable and valid for assessing the impact of malocclusion on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their parents/caregivers.

Oral Health-Related Quality Of Life of Pre-School Children: Review and Perspectives for New Instruments.

This study aimed to describe different approaches for the evaluation of the Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children and to discuss perspectives for future instruments. The OHRQoL is a concept that surpasses an exclusively clinical perception and includes functional, social, emotional, and environmental issues. The measure of OHRQoL represents a holistic approach for researchers and clinicians extending their visions beyond the mouth and understanding the entire context of the patient. Negative impacts of oral conditions on OHRQoL in childhood can reflect on health development, especially in a life stage marked by social and cognitive maturation. Instruments have been developed and cross-culturally adapted to evaluate the impact of oral conditions on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their families. Some features distinguish these instruments and influence their selection, such as: self- or proxy-report; generic- or specific-condition; long- or short-form, and less or more established used in literature. Moreover, theoretical framework, construct validation and availability should also be considered. Nine OHRQoL instruments for preschool children were included in the present literature review. They were created between 2003 and 2017 by developed countries in most cases. The shorter instrument has five items, and the larger has 31 items. Most of them are proxy-reported, generic-condition, and have been relatively well established in the literature. The diversity of instruments indicates the evolution of OHRQoL studies, but there are methodological issues still in need to be improved in future developments or cross-cultural adaptations, according to current psychometric evidence.

Association between dental conditions, sliver diamine fluoride application, parental satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life of preschool children.

To investigate the associations between dental conditions, sliver diamine fluoride (SDF) application, parental satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children. In a clinical trial conducted in Hong Kong, preschool children who had carious lesions into dentine were randomly assigned to receive an application of SDF solution or placebo on their caries lesions 10 weeks before they received restorations. Additionally, a random sample of caries-free children was also recruited. Parents of the study children rated their satisfaction with their child's teeth using a 5-point scale (5 = very satisfied, 1 = very dissatisfied) 10 weeks after SDF or placebo application. Besides, the Chinese version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (C-ECOHIS) was used to assess the children's OHRQoL. There were 127, 133, and 154 children in the SDF, placebo, and caries-free groups, respectively. The parents whose child had 4 or more decayed teeth reported lower satisfaction scores (mean = 2.0 ± 0.7) with their child's dental health status compared with those of parents whose child had fewer (mean = 2.6 ± 0.9) or no (mean = 3.7 ± 0.7) decayed teeth (p < 0.001). These parents also reported higher C-ECOHIS scores. However, there was no significant difference in parental satisfaction and children's OHRQoL between the SDF and placebo groups (p > 0.05). In this study population, parental satisfaction and children's OHRQoL were associated with children's dental caries status but not with SDF application. This study provides valuable information about the factors, including SDF application, that can influence parental satisfaction and OHRQoL of preschool children.

Effects of restoring SDF-treated and untreated dentine caries lesions on parental satisfaction and oral health related quality of life of preschool children

ObjectivesTo find out the effects of placement of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations on parental satisfaction and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children with SDF-treated or untreated dentine caries lesions. MethodsIn a randomized controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong, preschool children who had cavitated dentine caries lesions were randomly assigned to receive application of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) solution or placebo (tonic water) on their caries lesions 10 weeks before receiving ART restorations. Parents were asked to rate their satisfaction with their child’s teeth using a 5-point scale (5 = very satisfied, 1 = very dissatisfied) before and six months after the restorative treatment. Besides, the Chinese version of Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (C-ECOHIS) was used to assess the children’s OHRQoL. ResultsA total of 194 children participated in this study, with 101 and 93 children receiving SDF and placebo application before ART restorations, respectively. There was no significant difference in parental satisfaction and C-ECOHIS score between the SDF and placebo groups at baseline. At the 6-month follow-up, the mean parental satisfaction score regarding their child’s dental health status increased significantly (p < 0.001) from 2.2 ± 0.7 to 2.8 ± 1.0 in the SDF group and from 2.3 ± 0.8 to 2.7 ± 0.9 in the placebo group. However, no significant changes (p > 0.05) in C-ECOHIS scores were found in either of the two groups after ART restoration placement. ConclusionsPlacement of ART restorations can improve parental satisfaction with the health and appearance of their child’s teeth but has no significant effect on the OHRQoL. Clinical significanceThis study provides valuable information about the effects of ART restoration placement on SDF-treated or untreated dentine caries lesions regarding parental satisfaction and OHRQoL of preschool children.

Oral health-related quality of life of preschool children receiving silver diamine fluoride therapy: A prospective 6-month study

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to investigate the effect of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) therapy on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children and their families in a school-based setting. MethodsA prospective study was conducted in six kindergartens in Hong Kong. Parents of the children were invited to complete an oral health questionnaire and to have their child undergo a dental examination. The decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) index was adopted for recording oral health status. The Chinese Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (C-ECOHIS) was used to evaluate the OHRQoL of the children and their families. Children with untreated caries were treated with SDF. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to determine the changes in C-ECOHIS scores before and after SDF treatment for six months. ResultsAt baseline, 117 preschool children aged 4–5 years received SDF treatment for caries arrest. Their mean(SD) dmft score at baseline was 4.9(3.8). After six months, 113(96.6%) returned a completed questionnaire. Their mean(SD) C-ECOHIS scores at baseline and follow-up were 7.4(6.6) and 7.8(6.4), respectively. The overall differences between pre- and post-treatment scores were not significant (p = 0.301). Concerning parent section, a negative impact was found (p = 0.014), whereas no significant impact was found in the child section (p = 0.831). ConclusionBased on the 6-month results, the SDF treatment conducted in a school setting did not affect the overall OHRQoL of preschool children and families. Clinical significanceThese results can provide important information to dental professionals regarding the use of SDF for caries control.

Mothers’ Sense of Coherence as a Predictor of Oral Health Related Quality of Life Among Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Sense of coherence (SOC) influences an individual’s health-related behaviours and practices. A mother’s SOC can influence oral health status and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of their children. Studies exploring the association between these variables are scarce. Aim: To determine a mother’s SOC, the child’s caries experience and OHRQoL and the association between these variables among mother–child pairs in Bangalore city. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 preschool children and their mothers from government and private preschools participated in the study. The mother’s SOC was assessed using Antonovsky’s 13-item SOC questionnaire, whereas OHRQoL of preschool children was assessed using Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS). Caries experience [decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft)] was recorded using World Health Organization criteria 2013. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. Mann–Whitney U test, t-test, Pearson correlation test and regression analysis were also applied. Significance was set at 5%. Results: The mean SOC score of the mothers and ECOHIS score were 53.79 ± 11.68 and 17.23 ± 7.87, respectively. The mean caries experience score was 0.99 ± 1.48. In this study, dmft negatively correlated with SOC [(r = −0.367), (P < 0.001)] and positively correlated with ECOHIS [(r = 0.679), (P < 0.001)]. SOC negatively correlated with ECOHIS [(r = −0.369), (P < 0.001]. Conclusion: Mother’s SOC negatively correlated with the child’s caries experience, which affected their OHRQoL. Hence, improving a mother’s SOC is the key to better oral health and quality of life.

Quality of life changes in children following emergency dental extractions under general anaesthesia.

To assess the changes in the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of 221 preschool children who presented to the emergency department with the consequences of untreated dental caries requiring dental extractions under general anaesthesia (DEGA). Two hundred and twenty-one healthy preschool children, who required emergency DEGA, were recruited over a period of 12 months. The same parent or caregiver completed the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire; both, prior to the DEGA and at the 2-week post-treatment visit. Data were analysed using repeated anova with adjustments for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni tests with the significance level set at 5%. One hundred and twenty-six participants, with a mean age of 4.02 and a mean dmft score of 8.27 (SD = 4.13), completed the 2-week post-treatment questionnaires. The overall ECOHIS, CIS, and FIS scores decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after emergency DEGA, demonstrating large effect sizes. The biggest decrease in prevalence after emergency DEGA was observed for the items of pain in teeth, trouble sleeping, being irritated or frustrated, difficulty drinking food, and parents being upset. The OHRQoL of preschool children, who presented to the emergency department with the consequences of untreated dental caries, was significantly improved following emergency DEGA.

Impact of oral health conditions on the quality of life of preschool children and their families: a cross-sectional study.

BackgroundDental caries, traumatic dental injury (TDI) and malocclusion are common oral health conditions among preschool children and can have both physical and psychosocial consequences. Thus, it is important to measure the impact these on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of oral health conditions on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their families.MethodsA preschool-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with 843 preschool children in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. Parents/caregivers answered the Brazilian Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale and a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data as well as the parent’s/caregiver’s perceptions regarding their child’s health. Clinical exams were performed by three researchers who had undergone a calibration process for the diagnosis of dental caries, TDI and malocclusion (K = 0.83-0.85). Hierarchical Poisson regression was employed to determine the strength of associations between oral health conditions and OHRQoL (α = 5%). The multivariate model was run on three levels obeying a hierarchical approach from distal to proximal determinants: 1) socio-demographic data; 2) perceptions of health; and 3) oral health conditions.ResultsThe prevalence of impact from oral health conditions on OHRQoL was 32.1% among the children and 26.2% among the families. The following variables were significantly associated with a impact on OHRQoL among the children: birth order of child (PR = 1.430; 95% CI: 1.045-1.958), parent’s/caregiver’s perception of child’s oral health as poor (PR = 1.732; 95% CI: 1.399-2.145), cavitated lesions (PR = 2.596; 95% CI: 1.982-3.400) and TDI (PR = 1.413; 95% CI: 1.161-1.718). The following variables were significantly associated with a impact on OHRQoL among the families: parent’s/caregiver’s perception of child’s oral health as poor (PR = 2.116; 95% CI: 1.624-2.757), cavitated lesions (PR = 2.809; 95% CI: 2.009-3.926) and type of TDI (PR = 2.448; 95% CI: 1.288-4.653).ConclusionCavitated lesions and TDI exerted a impact on OHRQoL of the preschool children and their families. Parents’/caregivers’ perception of their child’s oral health as poor and the birth order of the child were predictors of a greater impact on OHRQoL.

Mothers' sense of coherence and oral health related quality of life of preschool children in Udupi Taluk.

To assess the relationship between mothers' Sense of Coherence (SOC) and oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of 3-5 year old preschool children in Udupi Taluk. 388 mothers aged 24-48 years old and their preschool children. A cross sectional study of mother-child pairs, randomly selected from 8 preschools. Information was obtained about mothers' sociodemographic factors along with the short version (SOC 13) of Antonovsky's sense of coherence scale and children's OHRQoL using the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS). Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression were used for analysis. Mothers' SOC and children's OHRQoL. Mothers' SOC and fathers' education were significantly associated with children's OHRQoL in multivariate analysis. Children of mothers with high SOC were 12.9 times as likely to have high OHRQoL as mothers with low SOC (p < 0.01). Children of fathers with college/university education were twice as likely to have high OHRQoL as those with primary education (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that mother's SOC could be a psychosocial determinant of the OHRQoL of their preschool children. Family environment should be considered when designing interventions to promote or improve the oral health as well as OHRQoL of preschool children.

Impact of traumatic dental injuries and malocclusions on quality of life of preschool children: a population‐based study

Few studies assessed the impact of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and malocclusions on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children. To assess the impact of the presence of TDI and malocclusions, as well as its severity and types, respectively, on the OHRQoL of preschool children. The study was conducted in 1215 children aged 1-4years old who attended the National Day of Children Vaccination in Diadema, Brazil. Parents answered the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) and socio-demographic conditions. Calibrated dental examiners performed the oral examinations for TDI and malocclusions. Poisson regression models adjusted by dental caries associated the clinical and socio-demographic conditions with the outcome. The multivariate adjusted models showed associations between some individual domains of the B-ECOHIS and clinical and socio-demographic conditions (P<0.05). The severity of TDI showed a negative impact on the symptoms domain and self-image/social interaction domain (P<0.05). Children with complicated TDI were more likely to experience a negative impact on total B-ECOHIS scores (PR=2.10; P=0.048). The presence of complicated TDI and dental caries were associated with worse OHRQoL of Brazilian preschool children, whereas malocclusions do not.

Impact of Early Childhood Caries on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of Preschool Children and Their Parents

The aim of the present population study was to evaluate the impact of early childhood caries (ECC) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of preschool children and their parents/caregivers. A random sample of 638 children (aged 2–5 years) underwent a clinical oral examination to assess ECC, and their parents were invited to answer two questionnaires: one on the OHRQoL of the child, the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale, and another on the characteristics and sociodemographic conditions of the child. Descriptive analysis, χ² test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models were used. The prevalence of ECC was 52.2%. The number of teeth with decay ranged from 1 (n = 42; 6.6%) to 20 (n = 5; 0.8%), averaging 2.86 (SD = 4.04). There was a significant difference between the severity of ECC and OHRQoL in terms of the impact on both child and family (p < 0.001). An increase in the severity of ECC resulted in an increased negative impact on the quality of life of the child (rate ratio, RR = 5.32; 95% confidence interval, CI: 3.67–7.71). Greater age of the mother had a positive impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children (RR = 0.72; 95% CI: 0.54–0.97). Increased age resulted in an increased negative impact on the quality of life of the child (RR = 2.97; 95% CI: 1.61–5.47). ECC has a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children aged 2–5 years and their parents. Mothers aged 30 or older reported better OHRQoL, independent of the presence of ECC and the age of the child.

Impact of traumatic dental injuries and malocclusions on quality of life of young children

BackgroundThe presence of traumatic dental injuries and malocclusions can have a negative impact on quality of life of young children and their parents, affecting their oral health and well-being. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of traumatic dental injuries and anterior malocclusion traits on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of children between 2 and 5 years-old.MethodsParents of 260 children answered the six domains of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) on their perception of the OHRQoL (outcome). Two calibrated dentists assessed the types of traumatic dental injuries (Kappa = 0.9) and the presence of anterior malocclusion traits (Kappa = 1.0). OHRQoL was measured using the ECOHIS. Poisson regression was used to associate the type of traumatic dental injury and the presence of anterior malocclusion traits to the outcome.ResultsThe presence of anterior malocclusion traits did not show a negative impact on the overall OHRQoL mean or in each domain. Only complicated traumatic dental injuries showed a negative impact on the symptoms (p = 0.005), psychological (p = 0.029), self image/social interaction (p = 0.004) and family function (p = 0.018) domains and on the overall OHRQoL mean score (p = 0.002). The presence of complicated traumatic dental injuries showed an increased negative impact on the children's quality of life (RR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.36, 2.63; p < 0.001).ConclusionsComplicated traumatic dental injuries have a negative impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their parents, but anterior malocclusion traits do not.

Impact of oral diseases and disorders on oral health-related quality of life of preschool children

The presence of oral diseases and disorders can produce an impact on the quality of life of preschool children and their parents, affecting their oral health and well-being. However, socioeconomic factors could confound this association, but it has not been yet tested at this age. To assess the impact of early childhood caries (ECC), traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and malocclusions on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children between 2 and 5 years of age adjusted by socioeconomic factors. Parents of 260 children answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) (six domains) on their perception of the children's OHRQoL and socioeconomic conditions. Two calibrated dentists (κ>0.8) examined the severity of ECC according to dmft index, and children were categorized into: 0=caries free; 1-5=low severity; ≥6=high severity. TDI and malocclusions were examined according to Andreasen & Andreasen (1994) classification and for the presence or absence of three anterior malocclusion traits (AMT), respectively. OHRQoL was measured through ECOHIS domain and total scores, and poisson regression was used to associate the different factors with the outcome. In each domain and overall ECOHIS scores, the severity of ECC showed a negative impact on OHRQoL (P<0.001). TDI and AMT did not show a negative impact on OHRQoL nor in each domain (P>0.05). The increase in the child's age, higher household crowding, lower family income and mother working out of home were significantly associated with OHRQoL (P<0.05). The multivariate adjusted model showed that the high severity of ECC (RR=3.81; 95% CI=2.66, 5.46; P<0.001) was associated with greater negative impact on OHRQoL, while high family income was a protective factor for OHRQoL (RR=0.93; 95% CI=0.87, 0.99; P<0.001). The severity of ECC and a lower family income had a negative impact on the OHRQoL of preschool children and their parents.