PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of schoolchildren in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and to assess the relationship between OHRQoL and self-reported dental esthetics.

METHODS

The Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) was completed by 510 seventh and eighth graders of public primary schools. Subjects also assessed their own dentition with the Esthetic Component of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (AC-IOTN). Gender differences on COHIP subscales and the AC-IOTN were examined using Mann-Whitney U tests. Correlations between the COHIP subscales and the AC-IOTN were assessed with Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Boys scored significantly lower on the subscales "oral symptoms" and "emotional well-being" than girls. Correlations between OHRQoL and the AC-IOTN were low but significant for boys for the domains "oral symptoms" (0.137) and "emotional well-being" (0.186) and for girls for the domains "functional well-being" (0.148), "emotional well-being" (0.195), and "peer interaction" (0.215).

CONCLUSIONS

Dutch schoolchildren in Amsterdam generally reported good oral health-related quality of life. Boys seemed to experience a slightly lower impact of oral symptoms and better emotional well-being than girls. Children's self-perceived dental esthetics did not seem to constitute a relevant variable to explain their level of OHRQoL.