Does the School Environment Exert Influence on Quality of Life Related to the Occurrence of Traumatic Dental Injuries in School Children? 

Abstract

Purpose: To assess whether favourable factors related to school characteristics have a positive effect on the impact on OHRQoL related to occurrence TDI.Methods: An epidemiological survey of oral health was conducted with 12-year-old scholars from Quito, Ecuador. Children were examined regarding TDI, dental caries, and malocclusion. Individual socioeconomic data was collected. Information on the physical environment, health practices and occurrence of negative episodes in the schools were collected with the school’s coordinators. The Child Perceptions Questionnaire 11-14 (CPQ11-14) was answered to evaluate the OHRQoL (outcome variable). Multilevel Poisson regression analysis was conducted. Results: Occurrence of severe TDI was associated with higher CPQ11-14 scores, even in the multiple model adjusted for oral health conditions, sex, individual socioeconomic variables, and school-related variables. Children from schools that had an appropriate tooth brushing environment for their students exhibited a lower impact on OHRQoL, even when adjusted for occurrence of TDI and other variables. Conclusion: A favourable school environment may exert a positive effect on the OHRQoL, independently of the occurrence of TDI.