Objectives: This study aimed to document the mid-term effects of comprehensive dental treatment under general
anesthesia (DTGA) on parent-assessed children's oral health-related quality of life (COHRQoL). A second aim was
to examine some epidemiological factors associated with COHRQoL and treatment outcome.
Study Design: A pretest-posttest design was followed in which parents were surveyed using the Child Oral Health
Quality of Life Questionnaire before and 6-9 months after their children (age ranges 3-10 years) underwent DTGA.
Some clinical conditions and epidemiological factors were examined to assess their association with COHRQoL
and changes resulting from treatment.
Results: The clinical sample consisted of 80 children-parent dyads. The effect sizes of change following DTGA
were large for both the child impact section and family impact section of the COHRQoL. COHRQoL scores after
treatment were comparable or lower than those of a cross-matched group of children with no complaints related to
oral health. Child's age, pain and number of teeth with pulpal involvement showed significant association with both
pretreatment scores and change scores.
Conclusions: Children's OHRQoL improved after DTGA as assessed by parents 6-9 months postoperatively. Child's
age, pain and number of pulpally-involved teeth can be used as predictors for COHRQoL and change scores.
|