Impact of Dental Caries on the Quality of Life of Preschool Children in Salvador, Bahia

Dental caries affects most of preschoolers and has important consequences for the development and quality of life of affected children. Aim: To describe the epidemiological status of dental caries in preschoolers in Salvador-BA- Brazil and evaluate the impact of this oral disease on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), considering sociodemographic characteristics. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of preschool children in Salvador-BA- Brazil. Caries was assessed using dmft and the impact on quality of life used the B-ECOHIS (Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale). Data collection took place in 2018 through, thorough clinical examination and questionnaire application. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyzes were performed using robust Poisson regression, with a significance level of 5%. Results: 1591 children were examined, and the prevalence of caries was 36.46%. The presence of early caries (adjusted PR = 2.07; 1.82-2.34 95% CI), severe caries (PR = 2.07; 1.84-2.33 95% CI) and child oldest age (adjusted PR = 1.55; 1.36-1.77 95% CI) were associated with children's OHRQoL; child oldest age (adjusted PR = 1.42; 1.19-1.69 95% CI), the presence of early caries (adjusted PR = 2.65; 2.22-3.16 95% CI), severe caries (PR = 3.07; 2.63-3.60 CI 95%) and the number of people in the household (PR = 1.46; 1.22-1.73 CI 95%) were associated with Family OHRQoL. Conclusion: The children evaluated had a high prevalence and severity of early caries. Worst oral health and sociodemographic conditions had a negative impact on the OHRQoL of children and their families.