The psychosocial effects of severe caries in 4-year-old children in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychosocial effects of severe caries in 4-year-old children in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The clinical examination was conducted by a single examiner in order to select children with severe caries and caries-free (kappa = 1). Of the 861 children examined, 77 (8.1%) had severe caries and 225 (23.6%) were caries-free. Data were collected by applying validated questionnaires answered by the parents or guardians. Most of the parents or guardians of children with severe caries reported that their children complained of toothache (72.7%), and a significant portion stated that their children had problems eating certain kinds of food (49.4%) and missed school (26.0%) because of their teeth. Most of the parents or guardians of children with severe caries (68.8%) stated that oral health affects their children's life, while the same was stated by 9.8% of the parents or guardians of the caries-free children. Severe caries was found to have a negative impact on children's oral health-related quality of life.

Qualidade de vida e percepção estética da cárie dentária

“…Assim como observado no estudo realizado com 861 crianças de 4 anos, em que crianças com cárie severa afirmam com mais frequência que sentem dor ou ficam tristes com os seus dentes, quando comparadas com as crianças livres de cárie (20) . Além disso, os pais ou responsáveis das crianças com cárie relataram que seus filhos tinham vergonha de sorrir por causa de seus dentes (31,2%), enquanto alguns (9,1%) pararam de brincar com outras criançaspela mesma razão (20) .…”

Estudo comparativo de dois critérios utilizados no Programa Saúde da Família na priorização do tratamento da cárie entre crianças de 5 a 12 anos

“…Conforme o critério adotado pela Secretaria de Estado de Saúde de São Paulo, crianças que possuírem uma lesão cavitada aguda terão prioridade no atendimento odontológico sobre aquelas que possuírem lesões cavitadas em situação crônica, independente do número de cavidades. É importante ressaltar que crianças portadoras de cárie severa têm problemas para comer certos alimentos, faltam às aulas por causa dos dentes e tem seu desempenho escolar comprometido 16 .…”

School-based Oral Health Promotion and Intervention in AMIGA (Alfonso, Mendez, Indang, General Emilio Aguinaldo, Amadeo) Cavite, Philippines

“…Likewise, risk factors such as smoking tobacco and excessive consumption of alcohol, bad dietary habits, and poor standard of oral hygiene, can be prevented or controlled. Despite the known low mortality rate associated with dental disease, they have a considerable effect on selfesteem, eating ability, nutrition and health both in childhood, and old age (Feitosa et al, 2005). Furthermore, the cost of traditional dental treatment of disease is expensive.…”

“…causes impaired chewing that may be a reason for the decreased appetite followed by weight loss, sleep problems, behavioral changes, and low school performance. Inadvertently, this may compromise the family welfare because the parents feel guilty for their children's suffering and have work absence and expenditures associated with dental treatments (Feitosa, Colares, & Pinkham, 2005). Reports have shown a relationship between caries and financial status.…”