Oral Health and Dental Management

Abstract

Are oral health conditions and anxiety during dental treatment associated with children`s Quality of Life?

Rizzardi Karina F, Tognetti Valdinéia M, Leme Lucia Ap FP, Steiner-Oliveira Carolina, Nobre-Dos-Santos Marinês, Parisotto Thaís M

This study aimed at evaluating the quality of life related to oral health status in children aging 8 to 10 years old, and the anxiety of these children according to the dental procedures they need. Oral Health was evaluated by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria, Quality of Life by questionnaire (CPQ8-10), anxiety by heart rate frequency and pain before and after the dental procedure by Faces Pain Scale. The results are the worse the Quality of Life, more faces indicating pain were observed before the procedure (p<0.05). Moderate positive correlations (p<0.05) were found between the variables: difficulty of the procedure and caries index; difficulty of the procedure and Faces Pain Scale after the dental visit; Oral symptoms and biofilm presence; Oral symptoms and pain during the procedure; Clinical attendance time and Emotional Well-being; Clinical attendance time and Quality of Life; Social Welfare and Faces Pain Scale after the dental visit; Social Welfare and dentist fear. In procedures classified as moderate, heart rate frequency was significantly lower after the dental appointment. In conclusion painful symptoms resulting from dental problems affected Quality of Life of children, and anxiety prior to dental appointment depends on the procedure performed.