Associations of Self-Reported Oral Health Quality of Life with Actual Oral Health Status in Children

Abstract

Purpose: Quality of life is considered a component of patient centered care. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-reported oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) and the actual oral health status of children.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study consisted of pediatric dental chart reviews from three clinics. Demographic and dental visit data along with the child’s OHRQoL utilizing the Pediatric Oral health-related Quality of Life (POQL) instrument, were collected. Associations with untreated decay, treated decay, or POQL score were tested, using Chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, 2-sample t-tests, or ANOVA. Linear regression was used to evaluate the effect of statistical confounders in the relationship between untreated decay and POQL scores. Significance level was set to 0.05.

Results: Two hundred ninety-seven out of 336 children had both POQL and caries data. White children and children with untreated decay had significantly more negative POQL scores. Children rating their oral health as “excellent” or “very good” and children with sealants on molars had significantly more positive POQLs. Associations between POQL scores were significant with untreated decay, but not sealants, when considering both variables in the same model. After adjusting for having sealants, POQL scores were on average 7.5 points higher (more negative) in children with untreated decay, than in children without decay (p<0.001).

Conclusions: Collecting OHRQoL data allows oral health providers to easily incorporate patient perceptions in their assessment and care and would ensure that all oral health needs of the patients are being met. This is important for children, who may have difficulty expressing their concerns, particularly in clinical environments.