Objective: This study evaluated oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children and families before and after dental treatment under general anesthesia because of severe caries or molar-incisor hypomineralisation (MIH). Material and methods: A consecutive sample of the parents/caregivers of children (3-14 yr) in need of treatment under general anesthesia participated in the study. The children were divided into two groups: 3-6 yr and 7-14 yr. The 49-item questionnaire that was administered before and after general anesthesia comprised the Child Oral Health Quality of Life-components of the Parental-Caregivers Perception Questionnaire (P-CPQ), the Family Impact Scale (FIS), and two global questions concerning oral health and general well-being. The P-CPQ domains were Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, Emotional well-being, and Social well-being. The FIS items assessed impact on family life. Results: In both age groups, a significant decrease (p < 0.001) occurred in overall P-CPQ, and the Oral symptoms, Functional limitations, and Emotional limitations domains of the P-CPQ. Mean values for the Social well-being domain decreased significantly in the older (p < 0.05) but not the younger age group. Mean values for FIS decreased significantly in the younger (p < 0.001) and the older (p < 0.05) age groups. Conclusions: Dental treatment of severe caries or MIH, performed under general anesthesia, had an immediate effect on the oral health-related quality of life in the children in this study and a positive impact on the family situation.

BackgroundThere is an uncertainty regarding how to optimally prevent and/or reduce pain after dental treatment on children and adolescents.AimTo conduct a systematic review (SR) and health technology assessment (HTA) of oral analgesics administered after dental treatment to prevent postoperative pain in children and adolescents aged 3–19 years.DesignA PICO-protocol was constructed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017075589). Searches were conducted in PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, Cinahl, and EMBASE, November 2018. The researchers (reading in pairs) assessed identified studies independently, according to the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, following the PRISMA-statement.Results3,963 scientific papers were identified, whereof 216 read in full text. None met the inclusion criteria, leading to an empty SR. Ethical issues were identified related to the recognized knowledge gap in terms of challenges to conduct studies that are well-designed from methodological as well as ethical perspectives.ConclusionsThere is no scientific support for the use or rejection of oral analgesics administered after dental treatment in order to prevent or reduce postoperative pain in children and adolescents. Thus, no guidelines can be formulated on this issue based solely on scientific evidence. Well-designed studies on how to prevent pain from developing after dental treatment in children and adolescents is urgently needed.