Association of dental caries morbidity stages with oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents

Abstract

Background: Dental caries morbidity stages and their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) have not yet been established.

Aim: To compare the association of dental caries morbidity stages with OHRQoL in children and adolescents from public schools of Patos-PB, Brazil.

Design: A cross-sectional study was performed on 461 students at 8-10 years and 454 at 11-14 years. Caries was evaluated by Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) instrument. The maximum CAST code per individual was registered. OHRQoL was assessed using the Child Perceptions Questionnaires for children (CPQ_8-10 ) and adolescents (CPQ_11-14 ).

Results: Morbidity stage was the most prevalent caries condition in children (40.8%) and adolescents (38.1%). Factors associated with higher CPQ_8-10 scores in the multivariate regression analysis after adjustments were age [9 years, prevalence ratio (PR): 1.24; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06-1.45; and 10 years, PR: 1.32, CI: 1.13-1.55] and dental caries status [morbidity, PR: 1.23, CI: 1.03-1.48; and severe morbidity, PR: 1.30, CI: 1.04-1.61]. The factor associated with higher CPQ_11-14 scores was dental caries status [morbidity, PR: 1.20, CI: 1.00-1.44].

Conclusions: The OHRQoL of children was negatively associated with morbidity and severe morbidity stages of dental caries, while for adolescents, only morbidity had a negative association with their OHRQoL.

Keywords: adolescents; children; dental caries; oral health-related quality of life.