ABSTRACT
Background
Dental caries is a chronic disease caused by a set of biological and social factors. The aim of this study was to conduct a study of dental caries and oral health related quality of life (QoL) in Brazilian patients with cleft lip and palate.
Materials and methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted with cleft lip and palate patients with 12 years of age. Participants were examined for dental caries decayed, missing and filled teeth-World Health Organization (DMFT-WHO criteria). The dental impact on daily living (DIDL) instrument was used to collect data of oral health-related QoL. The Mann- Whitney test was used to present the differences between gender and the Spearman correlation was used with DIDL and DMFT.
Results
The 30 (30%) of the 50 children with cleft lip and palate were caries-free, and the DMFT was 1.70 (1.62), with 53.91% for the care index. The dimensions 'speak’ (34%) and ‘Hygiene’ (46%) represented the largest negative impact on QoL. The DIDL instrument correlated only among the missing component and dimensions 'stress’ (r = 0.35, p < 0.01) and 'study’ (r = 0.52, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
The presence of cleft lip and palate in subjects 12 years of age had a negative impact on QoL and this impact was also significant for tooth loss caused by dental caries.
How to cite this article
Galitesi TRL, Foger D, Velasco SRM, Esper LA, Honório HM, Almeida ALPF, Soares S, Carrara C Oliveira TM, Bastos JRM, Machado MAAM, Bastos RS. Dental Caries and Oral Health-related Quality of Life in Cleft Lip and Palate Patients: A Pilot Study. World J Dent 2015;6(3):123-128.