DOES DENTAL TRAUMA IN EARLY CHILDHOOD HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AFFECT THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES?

Objective: To evaluate the influence of dental trauma on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children and their families.

Methods: A total of 571 children aged five years were randomly selected at public schools. Trauma was clinically evaluated in accordance with the Andreasen classification. Caries experience in the anterior region and increased overjet were determined according to the World Health Organization criteria. The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) was answered by the parents and used to evaluate OHRQoL. In addition, this questionnaire has aspects related to socioeconomic status. Simple logistic regression was performed, and the raw Odds Ratios with the respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. The variables with p<0.20 were tested in multiple logistic regression models, and those with p≤0.05 remained in the model and the adjusted odds ratio with respective 95%CI was estimated.

Results: Income showed a magnitude of association of 1.56 and 2.70 with the OHRQoL of children and families, respectively. The avulsion variable showed 9.65- and 8.25-times greater chance of influencing the OHRQoL of children and families, respectively. The experience of caries showed 3.80- and 2.42-times greater chance of influencing the OHRQoL of children and families, respectively.

Conclusions: Dental trauma did not influence OHRQoL of children and their families negatively. However, avulsion and caries experience in low-income families was associated with a negative perception of OHRQoL.