Oral Health-Related Quality of Life of 2 to 5-Year-Old Children in Iran

Background and Aim: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and dental caries are among the prevalent oral health issues in preschool children that can lead to psychosocial and physical complications. Therefore, it is crucial to assess their effects on children’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). This study aimed to assess the effect of oral health status on OHRQoL of 2- to 5-year-old children in Sari, Iran.    Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 540 randomly selected children between 2 to 5 years. Their decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) indices was determined by oral clinical examination. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was completed by the parents. SPSS 16 was used for statistical analysis by the Chi-square test, independent t-test, and ANOVA. Results: The ECOHIS mean scores in the Family Impact Section (FIS) and Child Impact Section (CIS) were 1.8±3.0 and 2.7±4.2, respectively. The mean DMFT score of children was 3.2±3.07, with 47% having a DMFT of 0. The frequency of TDI was 11.5%. The DMFT index and ECOHIS were significantly correlated (r=0.571, P<0.001). A statistically significant correlation was found between ECOHIS and TDI, indicating lower quality of life (QoL) in patients with a history of TDI (P<0.001). Conclusion: Children’s oral health considerably affects their own and their parents’ QoL. Its effect on children’s QoL is greater than its impact on the QoL of the parents.