The Impact of Children's Oral Health on Families: The Role of Pain, Anxiety, and Socioeconomic Factors

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate children's oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) and its impact on family life, considering factors such as anxiety, fear, stress, and dental caries. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out with children aged between 6 and 12 who came to the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic at the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG) between March and June 2024. Methodology: To measure these variables, the Parent/Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS), the Jarman Socioeconomic Conditions Assessment Questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the deft/DMFT indices were used. Data were collected and tabulated in Excel and subsequently analyzed using JAMOVI software, version 2.3. Results: When comparing the FIS scale with parental age (P=.04) and the occurrence of toothache in children (P=.03), a statistically significant association was found. However, when comparing the P-CPQ scale with variables such as age (P=.51) and toothache (P=.21), no association was observed. Analyzing family income (P=.69; P=.50), fear (P=.31; P=.11), anxiety (P=.57; P=.62), stress (P=.57; P=.66), caries severity (P=.33; P=.81), and child’s age (P=.82; P=.08), no significant association was found with either scale, P-CPQ and FIS, respectively. Conclusion: When assessing OHRQoL, it was observed that there was a greater family impact when children experienced toothache and in families where parents were over 30 years old.