Impacto da cárie dentária na qualidade de vida de crianças pré-escolares e de suas famílias

Abstract

The consequences of tooth decay in children include pain, diminished appetite, difficulty chewing, weight loss, difficulty sleeping, behavioral changes and poor scholastic performance. The aim of the present population-based cross-sectional study was to assess the impact of different stages of caries progression, caries activity and distribution in the oral cavity on the quality of life of preschool children and their parents/caregivers in the city of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 451 randomly selected children aged three to five years were submitted to a clinical exam for the assessment of dental caries using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System. Two questionnaires were administered to parents/caregivers: one on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the children (Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale) and one on socio-demographic and economic characteristics of the children and families. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models. The prevalence of early childhood caries was 51.2%. The majority of children with tooth decay (60.6%) had severe carious lesions. A significant association was found between caries progression stage and the OHRQoL of both the child and family. More advanced stages of progression (distinct cavity with visible dentin, extensive cavity and root remnant) in anterior and/or posterior teeth exerted a negative impact on quality of life. Moreover, the negative impact on quality of life was associated with the age of the child and mothers schooling. In conclusion, dental caries in more advanced stages of progression were associated with a poorer quality of life among preschoolers and their families, regardless of the distribution in the oral cavity.