Untreated dental caries prevalence and impact on the quality of life among11 to14-year-old Egyptian schoolchildren: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess caries prevalence and experience among 11-14 years schoolchildren, analyze demographic, socioeconomic, personal and professional dental care in relation to untreated carious lesions, and evaluates the effect of decayed teeth on early adolescents' oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).Methods: A cross-sectional analytical investigation conducted on 1020 preparatory schoolchildren selected on the basis of a multistage sampling technique. Caries status for the participants detected via recording their caries experience and untreated cavities using DMFT and DT indices. OHRQoL was determined using a validated Arabic CPQ11-14 short-form questionnaire. Statistical methods for descriptive analysis chi-square test, Independent-Samples T-Test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used. Multilevel Poisson regression analysis through a hierarchical approach was used to detect the influence of independent variables on DT scores. To declare the association between independent variables and QoL, a step-by-step, multivariate regression analysis was conducted.Results: The average scores of DMFT and DT in this study were 2.97±1.29 and 1.66±1.24. Poisson regression analysis demonstrates that school children with untreated carious lesions are 2.51 times have poor OHRQoL than their peers without caries. Untreated cavities affected mainly by mother education, school type, family income, and regular dental appointments. Children with DMFT ≤ 3) or DT =0 recorded a statistically significant lower CPQ11-14 average scores (p ˂ 0.01) and (p ˂ 0.0001) respectively.Conclusions: Untreated carious cavities and caries experience were associated with lower socioeconomic, maternal education and tooth brushing, untreated carious cavities have a significant negative impact on schoolchildren's QoL.