Association of dental caries and oral health related quality of life (Ohrqol) in disabled children

Objective: To assess the association of dental caries and oral health related quality of life in mentally or physical disabled children studying in schools of Karachi. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Public and private sector special needs schools of Karachi, from Sep to Nov 2017. Methodology: This study was conducted on 196 disabled children (mental/physical) in Karachi Pakistan. Children aged 6-18 years and having a disability was included in the study. We calculated the prevalence of dental caries through an examination of the oral cavity using the Decayed, missing and filled teeth index. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 20. Results: Dental caries was found in 114 (58.2%). “Oral symptoms” score was (4.46 ± 0.85 vs. 4.95 ± 0.79; p<0.001), “functional limitation” (4.12 ± 1.0 vs. 4.63 ± 0.82; p<0.001), “emotional wellbeing” (4.40 ± 0.92 vs. 4.97 ± 0.70; p<0.001) and “parental distress and family function” (3.65 ± 0.97 vs. 4.03 ± 0.96; p<0.001) in children with and without dental caries respectively. All the oral health related quality of life score domains showed statistically significant association between mentally and physical disabled children with and without dental caries. Conclusion: All the oral health related quality of life related domains had a significant negative impact on the quality of life in mentally and physical disabled children.