Association between oral condition in a population of Portuguese children and quality of life

Abstract

Introduction: Studies show a high prevalence of oral problems in children, affecting the quality of life related to oral health. There is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological studies on the oral conditions of Portuguese children. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of caries, consequences of non-treatment, malocclusion, traumatic dental injuries and MIH in a population of Portuguese children, verifying their association and sociodemographic characteristics with quality of life related to oral health. Methods: After approval by the Health Ethics Committee (CES-UCP no. 30/2019), the study included children aged 3 to 12 years and their guardians. Sociodemographic information and quality of life assessed by the ECOHIS-Pt or P-CPQ-Pt instruments via interview. Clinical data were obtained by oral examination. Statistical analysis compared groups using Student's t test, adopting a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05). Results: 131 children participated in the study, 76 females, 73 with mixed dentition, most living in urban areas, with parents who had between 10 and 12 years of education and a family income of two or more local minimum wages. The prevalence of caries was 48.1% and 9.2% with consequences of non-treatment. More than 80% of children had malocclusion, 16.8% had a history of traumatic dental injuries, and 15.3% had MIH. The average scores showed good quality of life related to oral health. There was an association between quality of life and place of residence, parents' marital status, mother's professional status, monthly family income, tooth decay and traumatic dental injuries, with a greater impact among children under 6 years of age. Conclusion: Portuguese children have a high prevalence of oral diseases, and these have a negative impact on the quality of life of preschool children.

Date of Award	16 Jul 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Anna Moura (Supervisor), Nélio Jorge Veiga (Co-Supervisor) & Renata Tolêdo Alves (Co-Supervisor)