The impact of socio-environmental, individual and biologic factors on oral health-related quality of life among preschool children: a cohort study with 3-year follow-up

This study assessed impact of socio-environmental, individual and biologic factors on the worsening and severe worsening of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschoolers and their families. A cohort study was conducted in Diamantina, Brazil, with 151 children between one and three years of age and their mothers, who were evaluated at baseline (2014) and re-evaluated after three years (2017). The children were clinically examined to assess the presence of dental caries, malocclusion, dental trauma and enamel defects. The mothers answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B-ECOHIS) and a questionnaire addressing individual characteristics of the child and socio-environmental factors. Extensive caries found in the follow-up (RR= 1.91; 95% CI= 1.26-2.91) and failure to undergo the dental treatment recommended at baseline (RR= 2.49; 95% CI= 1.62-3.81) were associated with worsening of OHRQoL over three years. An increase in the number of children in the household (RR= 2.95; 95% CI= 1.06-8.25), occurrence of extensive caries in the follow-up (RR= 2.06; 95% CI= 1.05-4.07) and failure to undergo the dental treatment recommended at baseline (RR= 3.68; 95% CI= 1.96-6.89), were associated with a severe worsening of OHRQoL. In conclusion, the risk of worsening and severe worsening of OHRQoL was higher in preschoolers with extensive caries at follow-up and among those who did not undergo dental treatment. Furthermore, severe worsening of OHRQoL was also impacted by an increase in the number of children in the household.

Automated summary

This study examined the factors influencing the deterioration and severe deterioration of oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among preschoolers and their families. It found that extensive tooth decay and failure to undergo recommended dental treatment were associated with worsening OHRQoL over a three-year period. An increase in the number of children in the household was also linked to severe worsening of OHRQoL. These findings highlight the importance of early dental care and maintaining good oral health in preschool-aged children.