Impact of treated and untreated traumatic dental injuries on oral health-related quality of life among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Amman.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Traumatic dental injuries (TDI) could have negative effects on the physical and psychosocial well-being of children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of TDI and the impact of treated/untreated TDI on the quality of life of children among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Amman.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1652 schoolchildren aged 12 years enrolled in schools in Amman. OHRQol was assessed using the Arabic version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ ). Diagnosis of traumatic dental injury was based on Andreasen's classification. Dental caries and malocclusion were also recorded and analyzed along with social class. Statistical analysis included ANOVA and multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

The prevalence of TDI was 14.6%. There was a statistically significant impact of untreated TDI on all items of CPQ . When children with treated TDI were compared with those who had not suffered TDI, the only statistically significant impact was difficulty in chewing. Compared to children with treated TDI and those who had not suffered TDI, children with untreated TDI experienced significantly higher impacts related to the overall OHRQol, oral symptoms, the emotional and social well-being domains. Regarding functional limitation domain, children with untreated TDI experienced a significantly higher impact than children who had not suffered TDI, but children with treated TDI still had some limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of TDI was 14.6%. Untreated TDI had a negative impact on OHRQol compared to absence of or treated TDI among 12-year-old schoolchildren in Amman.