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

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 < .001). The presence of pain was significantly associated with increased ECOHIS child and family impact scores (P < .001). In the multiple regression analyses, the dmft score and presence of pain showed a significant association with the ECOHIS scores (P < .001). CONCLUSION: The OHRQoL of children with S-ECC was worsened with the presence of pain and severity of the disease. More measures need to be placed to decrease the prevalence of children with S-ECC.