Effect of dark discolouration and enamel/dentine fracture on the oral health-related quality of life of pre-schoolers

Aim: To determine the effect of different types of dental trauma on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among pre-school children. Methods: Four hundred fifty-nine Brazilian pre-schoolers aged 3–5 years were submitted to an oral examination in the school environment for the evaluation of dental trauma using the criteria proposed by Andreasen et al. (2007). Parents answered a questionnaire on the OHRQoL of the children using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and another one on socio-demographic characteristics of the children and their families. The questionnaires were sent to the parents to be answered at home. Descriptive statistics, Mann–Whitney test and Poisson regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Children with dark discolouration and enamel–dentine fracture without pulp exposure had higher mean ECOHIS scores than those without these alterations. The multivariate regression analysis demonstrated that pre-school children with dark discolouration (PR 1.79; 95% CI 1.24–2.58) and enamel–dentine fracture without pulp exposure (PR 1.89; 95% CI 1.22–2.92) had a higher impact on quality of life than those without these alterations. Conclusion: Dark discolouration and enamel–dentine fracture without pulp exposure were associated with a negative impact on the life of pre-schoolers. © 2017, European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry.