Pediatric patients’ reasons for visiting dentists in all WHO regions

Abstract

Background Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact are the four oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) dimensions (4D) or areas in which oral disorders impact pediatric patients. Using their dentists' assessment, the study aimed to evaluate whether pediatric dental patients' oral health concerns fit into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct. Methods Dentists who treat children from 32 countries and all WHO regions were selected from a web-based survey of 1580 international dentists. Dentists were asked if their pediatric patients with current or future oral health concerns fit into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct. Proportions of all pediatric patients’ oral health problems and prevention needs were computed. Findings Data from 101 dentists treating children only and 523 dentists treating children and adults were included. For 90% of pediatric patients, their current oral health problems fit well in the four OHRQoL dimensions. For 91% of oral health problems they intended to prevent in the future were related to these dimensions as well. Both numbers increased to at least 96% when experts analyzed dentists´ explanations of why some oral health problems would not fit these four categories. Conclusions The study revealed the four fundamental components of dental patients, i.e., the four OHRQoL dimensions (Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact) are also applicable for pediatric patients, regardless of whether they have current or future oral health concerns, and should be considered when measuring OHRQoL in the pediatric dental patient population.

Commonalities among dental patient-reported outcomes (dPROs)—A Delphi consensus study

“…Because dPROMs capture what matters to patients, their common measurement targets should be related to the reasons why patients seek treatment for their oral health problems. An international study conducted in all six World Health Organization health regions corroborated this [37]. This study found that Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact capture dental patients' perceived impact of oral health problems worldwide, regardless of whether the patient currently suffers from oral diseases or intends to prevent them in the future [3].…”

“…This study found that Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact capture dental patients' perceived impact of oral health problems worldwide, regardless of whether the patient currently suffers from oral diseases or intends to prevent them in the future [3]. While these findings applied to all dental patients, a subsequent analysis restricted to pediatric dental patients confirmed these results [37].…”

“…In this study, all specific dPROMs were collected, i.e., instruments designed to measure impact for a specific oral disease and all (N = 102) disease-specific dPROMs could also be linked to the OHRQoL dimensions. A study investigating PROMs for pediatric dental patients came to similar conclusions [37]. In this systematic review, authors concluded the twelve pediatric dPROMs assessed included items that could be mapped to the four OHRQoL dimensions [37].…”

“…A study investigating PROMs for pediatric dental patients came to similar conclusions [37]. In this systematic review, authors concluded the twelve pediatric dPROMs assessed included items that could be mapped to the four OHRQoL dimensions [37].…”

A conceptual model of oro‐facial health with an emphasis on function

“…Modifying factors might be disease such as eating disorders (bulimia) or caries, facial trauma, or physiological ageing processes such as sarcopenia of the masticatory muscles.Figure redrawn from Ref. 1 under Creative Commons Licence (CC BY 3.0)In the overall context of oral health-related quality of life, orofacial frailty or oro-facial hypofunction should also take into account factors that relate to the domains oral function, oro-facial pain, oro-facial appearance and psychosocial impact, as they relate to the reasons as to why patients seek help from dental and medical professionals 41. Oro-facial function in the context of ageing The world's population continues to grow and to live longer.…”