Factors influencing the oral health‐related quality of life among children with severe early childhood caries in Hong Kong

• Published in: International journal of dental hygiene 2019-11, Vol.17 (4), p.350-358
• Main Authors: Lai, Sarah Hiu Fong, Wong, Mildred Lok Wun, Wong, Hai Ming, McGrath, Colman P. J., Yiu, Cynthia Kar Yung
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: caries; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Children & youth; Dental Caries; Dentistry; DMF Index; DMF‐S/T; Families & family life; Health risk assessment; Hong Kong; Humans; Oral Health; Oral hygiene; Pain; Plaque index; Preschool children; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1601-5029; 1601-5037
• DOI: 10.1111/idh.12414

Objective To assess the oral health‐related quality of life among Hong Kong preschool children with severe early childhood caries. Methods A total of 315 Hong Kong preschool children diagnosed with severe early childhood caries (S‐ECC) were recruited. Their caries and plaque status were evaluated. Their parents were asked to complete the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECHOIS) and a sociodemographic background questionnaire. Results There was a 98.7% response rate. The mean age was 4.7 ± 0.8 years. The mean decayed, missing and filled teeth (dmft) score was 10.2 ± 4.5. Almost all the children (98.7%) had decayed teeth. More than half of the children (61.4%) had a visible plaque index (VPI) score of above 90%. About one quarter (28.9%) were experiencing symptoms of pain. The dmft score of the child was significantly associated with the ECOHIS child impact, child function, family impact and family distress domains (P