Authors: Cunnion, D.T.¹; Spiro, A.²; Jones, J.A.³; Rich, S.E.⁴; Papageorgiou, C.P.⁵; Tate, A.⁶; Casamassimo, P.⁷; Hayes, C.⁸; Garcia, R.I.⁴

Source: Journal of Dentistry for Children, Volume 77, Number 1, January-April 2010 , pp. 4-11(8)

Publisher: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Abstract:

Purpose: This study's purpose was to compare changes in parent-reported pediatric oral health-related quality of life between children with early childhood caries (ECC) and children who were caries-free; the ECC children received surgical dental intervention between baseline and follow-up.

Methods: A newly developed self-report instrument, the POQL, was administered to 501 parents of 2- to 8-year-old children (caries-free=315; ECC=186) in hospital dental clinics in Columbus, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

Results: At baseline, ECC children were more likely to have fair or poor oral health and were rated as having more pain and trouble with physical, mental, and social functioning due to their teeth or mouth vs caries-free children (P<.001). At 6 and 12 months following dental treatment for ECC, there were significant improvements in parental ratings of their children's oral health status and a significant reduction in problems reported with physical, mental, and social functioning (all P<.001).

Conclusions: Compared with caries-free children, early childhood caries children were more likely to have worse questionnaire response scores and to experience greater negative impacts on physical, mental, and social functioning. Dental interventions in ECC children had a significant positive impact on parental ratings of their overall oral health and physical, mental, and social functioning.

Keywords: INFANT ORAL HEALTH/EARLY CHILDHOOD CARIES; ORAL HEALTH SERVICES/ACCESS TO CARE; PUBLIC HEALTH/EPIDEMIOLOGY

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of General Dentistry, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Mass 2: Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, B 3: Department of General Dentistry, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston 4: Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research, Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Boston University, Boston 5: Dentist in private practice, Boston Mass 6: Department of Dentistry, Children's National Medical Center, Washington DC 7: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; Chief of dentistry, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio 8: Department of Public Health and Community Service, Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass

Publication date: 2010-01-01

More about this publication?

• Acquired after the merger between the American Society of Dentistry for Children and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in 2002, the Journal of Dentistry for Children (JDC) is an internationally renowned journal whose publishing dates back to 1934. Published three times a year, JDC promotes the practice, education and research specifically related to the specialty of pediatric dentistry. It covers a wide range of topics related to the clinical care of children, from clinical techniques of daily importance to the practitioner, to studies on child behavior and growth and development. JDC also provides information on the physical, psychological and emotional conditions of children as they relate to and affect their dental health.
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• By this author: Cunnion, D.T. ;  Spiro, A. ;  Jones, J.A. ;  Rich, S.E. ;  Papageorgiou, C.P. ;  Tate, A. ;  Casamassimo, P. ;  Hayes, C. ;  Garcia, R.I.

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