School of Dentistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2018 Mar;28(2):266-276. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12350. Epub 2017 Dec 30.
The effect of untreated dental caries and the approaches taken to its treatment have not been extensively elucidated in children.
To investigate the impact of untreated dental caries on children aged 4-9 years and whether its treatment with either a conventional or a biological approach influenced the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of the children and their carers.
Children (n = 110) and their carers attending two specialist centres for treatment of carious primary teeth completed the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale and the Self-reported Scale of Oral Health Outcomes for 5-year-old Children at baseline prior to dental treatment and at 3-6 months following completion of dental care. Dental treatment was provided using either a conventional or a biological approach.
Dental caries showed a negative impact on the child and family's OHRQoL (P = 0.001). Children reported difficulty eating (55.5%), sleeping (40%), and avoiding smiling because of how the teeth looked (27.3%). More than half of the parents reported their child had toothache. Parents perceived difficulty eating (40.9%), being irritable (38.2%), and difficulty drinking (30.9%) as being impacts of caries on their child's OHRQoL. In addition, approximately half the parents reported feeling a sense of guilt because of their child's dental disease. Following dental treatment, participants reported significant improvement in their overall health status (P = 0.001). Children's age, gender, or the treatment approach were not statistically significantly associated with changes in OHRQoL of the child or carer. Children and parents who initially reported greater impacts of untreated dental caries demonstrated greater improvements in their overall oral health status (P < 0.0001).
Dental caries was associated with negative impacts on children and parents' quality of life. Treatment of caries improved the quality of life of children and families significantly, irrespective of whether the treatment was provided by a conventional or a biological approach.
未治疗的龋齿的影响及其治疗方法在儿童中尚未得到广泛阐明。
调查未治疗的龋齿对 4-9 岁儿童的影响，以及采用传统方法还是生物方法治疗龋齿是否会影响儿童及其照顾者的口腔健康相关生活质量（OHRQoL）。
参加专门治疗龋齿的儿童（n=110）及其照顾者在接受牙科治疗前和接受牙科治疗后 3-6 个月，使用儿童早期口腔健康影响量表和 5 岁儿童自我报告口腔健康结果量表完成基线评估。牙科治疗采用传统方法或生物方法。
龋齿对儿童和家庭的 OHRQoL 有负面影响（P=0.001）。儿童报告说，因为牙齿的外观，他们在进食（55.5%）、睡眠（40%）和避免微笑（27.3%）方面存在困难。超过一半的家长报告说他们的孩子有牙痛。家长认为龋齿对孩子 OHRQoL 的影响包括进食困难（40.9%）、烦躁不安（38.2%）和饮水困难（30.9%）。此外，约一半的家长表示因为孩子的牙齿疾病而感到内疚。接受牙科治疗后，参与者报告说他们的整体健康状况有了显著改善（P=0.001）。儿童的年龄、性别或治疗方法与儿童或照顾者的 OHRQoL 变化没有统计学上的显著相关性。最初报告未治疗的龋齿对生活质量影响较大的儿童和家长，其整体口腔健康状况有了更大的改善（P<0.0001）。
龋齿与儿童和家长生活质量的负面影响有关。无论采用传统方法还是生物方法治疗龋齿，都能显著改善儿童和家庭的生活质量。
