Impacto de la salud oral en la calidad de vida de los niños pre-escolares: percepción de los responsables

Resumen

espanolLos estudios relacionados a las enfermedades orales y la repercusion de estas en la calidad de vida de ninos pre-escolares son relatados por terceros. Objetivando evaluar la percepcion de los responsables cuanto al impacto de la salud oral en la calidad de vida de ellos, fue aplicado el instrumento ECOHIS-B (Early Chilhood Oral Health Impacts Scale - Brasil). Se entrevisto a 60 personas responsables por ninos de 3 a 6 anos de edad de la clinica de odontopediatria de una institucion de ensenanza publica brasilena. Fue realizado un examen clinico en los ninos para determinar la presencia de lesiones de caries, dientes restaurados y perdidos e indices de biofilm y sangramiento de la encia. La escala del ECOHIS-B vario de 0 a 30, con media de 10,53 (DP=8,30); 52 ninos (86,6%) presentaron por lo menos un impacto, dolor de diente (60%) y dificultad para comer (50%) fueron los mas frecuentes. Por cada diente acometido por caries (p=0,0001), diente con presencia de caries en dentina (p=0,008) y diente restaurado (p=0,001) la correlacion con el ECOHIS-B total fue estadisticamente significativa. La salud oral (n= 36; 59,9%) y general (n=52:86,6%) fueron consideradas por la mayoria de los responsables buena o muy buena al ser comparadas a la de otros ninos, y 18 (30%) de ellos percibian que el bienestar de los ninos podria ser perjudicado por problemas orales. Problemas con los dientes y tratamientos dentales generan un impacto significativo en la calidad de vida y esto puede ser percibido por el responsable. EnglishThe repercussions of oral diseases on the quality of life of preschool children are described by the caregivers, rather than the children themselves due to their age. The ECOHIS-B (Early Childhood Oral Health Impacts Scale - Brazil) was used to assess the caregiver's perception of the impact of oral health related to the quality of life of their preschool children. A group of 60 caregivers and their respective 3 to 6 year-old-children were interviewed. At this time these children were being treated at the paediatric dentistry clinic of a Brazilian public university. The children were given a clinical examination to determine carious lesions, missing and restored teeth and biofilm and gingival bleeding indexes were recorded. The ECOHIS-B score ranged from 0 to 30 and the mean score was 10.53 (SD = 8.30); 52 (86.6%) children presented at least one impact. The most frequent impacts were toothache (60%) and eating difficulties (50%). With regard to decayed teeth (p = 0.0001), tooth with dentin cariess (p = 0.008) and restored teeth (p = 0.001) the correlation with the total ECOHIS-B score was statistically significant. Oral (n = 36: 59.9%) and general health (n = 52: 86.6%) were considered good or very good by most caregivers of their own children and 18 (30%) of them perceived that their child's well-being could be affected by oral disorders. In conclusion, dental problems and treatments for children produce a significant impact on their quality of life, a fact which is also perceived by their caregivers