Parents' perspectives on the impact of dental caries on oral health-related quality of life in preschool children
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48047/Keywords:
Parents,Child, Oral Health, Quality of life.Abstract
Background- Dental caries negatively impacts the oral health of both children and their parents. The
purpose of this study was to see how oral and dental health issues influenced the oral health-related quality
of life of preschool children and their parents.
Methodology- Children aged 3 to 6 years old from licensed kindergartens were sampled by "proportional
allocation" sampling in this cross-sectional study. The children's parents were requested to fill the Early
Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS).
Results- 350 children aged 3 to 6 years were tested in this study, with an average age of 4.73 years. 3.94
±4.17 was the mean dmft index (decayed, missing, and filled teeth). The mean score for oral health-related
quality of life was 11.88± 6.9, with the impact on children accounting for 9.36± 5.02 points and the
influence on parents accounting for 2.52± 3.20 points.
Conclusion- In youngsters, the mean ECOHIS score increased as the dmft index increased, demonstrating
a substantial link among the dmft and the ECOHIS score. These findings can be utilized to design
preventive programs and boost oral health among young children.
