The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of oral diseases and disorders on the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children with CP, adjusting this impact by socioeconomic factors. Data were collected from 60 pairs of parents-children with CP. Parents answered the child oral health quality of life questionnaire (parental-caregivers perception questionnaire and family impact scale) and a socioeconomic questionnaire. Dental caries experience, traumatic dental injuries, malocclusions, bruxism, and dental fluorosis were also evaluated. The multivariate adjusted model showed that dental caries experience (p < 0.001) and the presence of bruxism had a negative impact (p = 0.046) on the OHRQoL. A greater family income had a positive impact on it (p < 0.001). Dental caries experience and bruxism are conditions strongly associated with a negative impact on OHRQoL of children with CP and their parents, but a higher family income can improve this negative impact.
Keywords: cerebral palsy; children; oral health; quality of life.
© 2013 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.