Impact of dental treatment on the oral health-related quality of life of Brazilian schoolchildren

Is there an association between family structure and the oral health of socially vulnerable children?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the family structure on the oral health status of socially vulnerable children in the Federal District of Brazil. A total of 471 schoolchildren with a mean age of 8.12 (± 0.90) years were examined for dental caries using the CAST instrument. Dental biofilm and oral pain were also registered. Children's guardians were interviewed about socioeconomic variables and oral hygiene habits. The association between oral pain in the previous 30 days and the child's maximum CAST score were analyzed using the Pearson chi-squared test. Multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to determine the predictors of presence of biofilm, oral pain, and caries severity. The prevalence of cavitated dentin lesions was 43.74% and, both dentin and enamel lesions, 52.87%; for both dentitions. An association between pain and severe nontreated carious lesions was found (p < 0.0001). The family structure was not related to the presence of dental caries, but a significant association was found between low maternal education and severe carious lesions (PR = 1.41; p = 0.0077) and oral pain (PR = 1.47; p = 0. 0335); not owning a residence and frequency of toothbrushing were also associated with the substantial presence of biofilm (PR = 1.13, p = 0.0493 and PR = 1.18, p = 0.0470; respectively). For socially vulnerable children, variables related to the socioeconomic status of the families were more relevant than the family structure in relation to their oral health status.

Agreement between schoolchildren and their parents on rating the child's oral health-related quality of life

The perceptions of parents/caregivers regarding their children's oral health can influence the standard of care and decision-making regarding oral health. The children's perspective on their own oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) may differ from the parents/caregivers' views. This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the agreement between the perceptions of parents/caregivers and schoolchildren regarding OHRQoL. It was conducted with a sample of children between 8 and 11 years old and their parents/caregivers from Pelotas. Children answered the Child Perceptions Questionnaire 8-10 (CPQ), and parents/caregivers answered the short form of the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ). Socioeconomic data were also collected. Children's dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, and malocclusions were examined. The Spearman's correlation test was performed. A total of 119 parents/caregivers-children pairs were included. There was an agreement between the total scores of parents/caregivers and children (0.2770; p = 0.003), in the oral symptoms (0.1907; p = 0.038), and functional limitations (0.2233; p=0.015) domains. The Bland-Altman graph showed an agreement between children's and parents/caregivers' OHRQoL total score, but there was an underestimation of approximately two points in the parents/caregivers' perception compared to the children's score. There was an agreement between the reports of parents/caregivers and children regarding children's OHRQoL.

Changes in oral health-related quality of life before and after dental treatment in 8-12-year-old Costa Rican schoolchildren

Aims

The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 8-12-year-old Costa Rican schoolchildren before and after dental treatment and (2) collect clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.

Methods

Schoolchildren completed the Child Oral Health Impact Profile-Short Form (COHIP-SF-19) questionnaire before and after dental treatment. One of the parents was asked to complete a sociodemographic survey. Patients were treated for caries, hypomineralizations, and dental malocclusions. The prevalence of these conditions was assessed from the patient's electronic dental record.

Results

Eighty participants (39 male and 41 female, average age: 9.4 ± 1.0 years) were recruited. The prevalence of dental caries was 56.1% with a mean deft and DMFT score of 3.15 ± 0.96 and 2.22 ± 0.77, respectively. The prevalence of hypomineralization and dental malocclusions was 53.7% and 82.9%, respectively. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index before treatment was 1.45 ± 0.45 and after was 1.42 ± 0.43. The mean COHIP-SF-19 total score decreased from 53.7 ± 7.8 before dental treatment to 31.4 ± 4.2 after treatment. Improvements in all subdomains were also observed. Regarding sociodemographic characteristics, 65% of the patients lived in San José, Costa Rica's capital city, and 56.3% of the studied population belonged to a low-income family. Most parents did not complete high school. Regarding the number of family members living in the same house as the patient, an average of four people was reported. In relation to family structure, 58.8% of the children's parents lived together, either married or free union. As for household ownership, 53.8% of parents reported owning their house, 36.3% lived in a rented house, and 10% lived in a borrowed home.

Conclusion

The prevalence of caries, hypomineralizations, and dental malocclusions were high before dental treatment. Reported sociodemographic characteristics unlikely changed after dental treatment, suggesting dental care played a pivotal role in improving self-perceptions of oral health and quality of life in our clinical setting.