Oral Health-Related Quality-of-Life According to Dental Caries Severity, Body Mass Index and Sociodemographic Indicators in Children with Special Health Care Needs

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the impact of dental caries’ severity, body mass index (BMI), and sociodemographic factors on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) for special health care needs (SHCN) children and the suitability of their caregivers as proxies to determine OHRQoL. This cross-sectional study recruited 107 pairs of SHCN children and their caregivers and asked them to complete a questionnaire on sociodemographic issues as well as the Arabic version of the early childhood oral health impact scale (A-ECOHIS). This was followed by a dental examination. Dental caries was measured using the dmft/DMFT index, while caries’ severity was also determined. The children’s height and weight were measured, and BMI (kg/m2) was recorded. Data were analyzed statistically using t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Poisson regression models. Our results revealed that the A-ECOHIS score was 10.93, while the OHRQoL was affected in 95.3% of children. The most-reported item was ‘pain in the teeth, mouth, or jaws’ (48.7%). By regression analysis, caries-free children (Odds Ratio (OR): 0.650) or those who had moderate caries (OR: 0.551) were less likely to have a negative impact on their OHRQoL than those with severe caries. Additionally, those whose caregivers had a maximum primary education (OR: 0.656) or whose occupation was in the health sector (OR: 0.721) were less likely to have a negative impact on their OHRQoL. Those who were ≤ 6 years old (OR: 1.188) were more likely to have a negative impact. BMI did not have a significant impact on the OHRQoL of the children. Further, we detected a significant positive correlation between children’s dmft/DMFT scores and the A-ECOHIS scores reported by the mothers. Given these variables, which included dental caries’ severity, but not BMI, and caregivers’ education level and occupation, plus the child’s age group, we found a significant impact on the OHRQoL. However, we found that mothers were better proxies for their children’s OHRQoL.

Risk Indicators and Treatment Needs of Children 2–5 Years of Age Receiving Dental Treatment under General Anesthesia in Saskatchewan

“…These factors encompass the social determinants of health, or the conditions in which people are born, live, and work that can affect their health [ 8 ]. When left untreated, ECC leads to infection, pain, and premature loss of teeth and can have deleterious effects over time with children ultimately suffering from a reduced oral health related quality of life [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Parental perspectives on oral health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review

“…This confirms the existing literature findings that fathers may be inept proxy assessors for the OHRQoL of their child with special health care needs (SHCNs) compared to mothers, who are commonly perceived as the primary caregivers of the children. 34 Another noteworthy finding was the income group or SES of families of children with ASD, which lay in an above-average income bracket or belonged to the middle/middle-upper class. This agrees with the literature highlighting the correlation between these two.…”

Special Care Patients and Caries Prevalence in Permanent Dentition: A Systematic Review

“…People with severe disabilities tend to have a high number of carious lesions. This may be related to difficulties in providing accessible oral health care and treatments, and with the patients’ socioeconomic context [ 6 , 7 , 8 ].…”