Global Pediatric Health (Mar 2021)

Impact of Oral Health on the Quality of Life of Preschoolers and Their Families

  • Mariana Gouvêa Latini Abreu DDs, MD,
  • Fabiana Germano BSc, MD, PhD,
  • Leonardo Santos Antunes DDs, MD, PhD,
  • Lívia Azeredo Alves Antunes DDs, MD, PhD

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X21999145
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8

Abstract

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The aim of this study was to evaluate how the oral hygiene condition can influence the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of preschoolers and their families. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 446 children aged 2 to 6 years from public schools located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The groups were dichotomized: regular/poor oral hygiene condition (RPOH) or good oral hygiene condition (GOH). The caregivers answered the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS). The average score in the RPOH group was 6.36 (6.35 DP) and GOH was 4.43 (5.35 SD) ( P < .01). In the child subscale, the average of the RPOH and GOH group were, respectively, 4.12 (4.14 DP) and 3.13 (3.66 DP) ( P = .01). In the family subscale, RPOH and GOH group were, respectively, 2.24 (3.12 DP) and 1.29 (2.52 DP) ( P = .01). RPOH group had the greatest impact on OHRQoL.