Dental caries are more likely to impact on children’s quality of life than malocclusion or traumatic dental injuries

Authors:

ABSTRACT

Aim

To measure the impact of dental caries, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injuries (TDI) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Brazilian children. Study design: population-based cross-sectional study.

Material and methods

A representative sample of 1,204 8-to-10-year-old children randomly selected from 19 public and private schools in Belo Horizonte (Brazil) was evaluated. The Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth Index (DMFT), the Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI), and Andreasen’s classification were used by two calibrated examiners to diagnose dental caries, malocclusion, and TDI, respectively. Children were clinically examined at school. The Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for ages 8 to 10 years (CPQ8-10) was used to assess the impact on OHRQoL.

Results

There were statistically significant differences (p<0.001) between groups (dental caries, malocclusion, and TDI) in all subscales and the CPQ8-10 total score. The presence of dental caries alone and its association with TDI and malocclusion were associated with all CPQ8-10 subscales (p<0.05). Statistics: the Poisson regression model with a robust variance estimator was utilised for the multivariate analysis. Adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained for the association between oral conditions and the total score on the CPQ8-10 and its subscales.

Conclusion

Dental caries seems to be the oral condition most commonly associated with a higher impact on the OHRQoL of Brazilian 8-to-10-year-olds.

PLUMX METRICS