Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children at a Pediatric Emergency Dental Service During the Start of COVID-19

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) has become increasingly significant in dentistry. By incorporating patient perspectives through questionnaires alongside objective diagnoses, the understanding of diseases is enhanced. This study examines OHRQoL during the early COVID-19 pandemic in children aged 0-10 who visited the Emergency unit of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Vienna from March to May 2020, focusing on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on various social and health aspects. The study aimed to assess OHRQoL in children during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and correlate it with other health and social conditions. Materials and Methods: Children (up to 10 years) and their parents visiting the Emergency Unit of the department completed OHRQoL questionnaires. In children aged 0-6, their parents answered the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale questionnaire (ECOHIS), while 7-10-year-olds completed the Child Perception Questionnaire (CPQ) by themselves. Summary scores and associations between oral and general health subdomains were analyzed. Results: Both the ECOHIS and CPQ groups showed high general summary scores, indicating decreased OHRQoL (ECOHIS 12.22 [±8.68] and CPQ 18.36 [±12.35]). The highest scores were in the "oral symptoms" domain, mainly due to "toothache". Significant correlations were observed between "general health" and "oral health" with the "family section" in the ECOHIS group and between "oral health" and "oral symptoms" with "emotional well-being" in the CPQ group. Conclusions: During the pandemic, both age groups experienced decreased OHRQoL. Family background influenced oral health (ECOHIS), while oral symptoms and emotional well-being correlated with oral health (CPQ). Further research is needed to understand pandemic-related factors affecting OHRQoL and develop preventive strategies.

Keywords: COVID-19; dental pain; oral health; pediatric dentistry; quality of life.