Dental health between self-perception, clinical evaluation and body image dissatisfaction – a cross-sectional study in mixed dentition pre-pubertal children

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-perception of oral health status is a multidimensional construct that includes psychological, psychosocial and functional aspects of oral health. Contemporary concepts suggest that the evaluation of health needs should focus on clinical standards and socio-dental indicators that measure the impact of health/disease on the individual quality of life. Oral health cannot be dissociated from general health. This study evaluates a possible association between oral health status, body size, self-perception of oral health, self-perception of body size and dissatisfaction with body image in prepubertal children with mixed dentition, targeting the completion of children’s health status assessment which will further allow the identification of individuals at risk and could be further used as an evaluation of the need for specific interventions.MethodsThe present study is cross-sectional in design and uses data from 710 pre-pubertal children with mixed dentition. The outcome variables comprised one item self-perception of oral health: dmft/DMFT Index and Dental Aesthetic Index, body size, self-assessed body size and desired body size. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The level of significance was set at 5%.ResultsMore than a half (53.1%) of the participants with mixed dentition reported that their oral health was excellent or very good. In the unadjusted model, untreated decayed teeth, dmft score and body dissatisfaction levels had a significant contribution to poor self-perception of oral health, but after adjustment for gender, BMI status, dmft score, DMFT score and DAI score, only untreated decayed teeth OR = 1.293, 95%CI (1.120–1.492) and higher body dissatisfaction levels had a significant contribution.ConclusionIt was concluded that the need for dental treatment influenced self-perception of oral health in prepubertal children with mixed dentition, especially with relation to untreated decayed teeth. Since only body dissatisfaction levels, but not BMI, were related to poor self-perception of oral health, which involves a psychological component, further studies should evaluate the risk factors of body dissatisfaction, in order to plan health care directed to this age group, and with the purpose to positive parenting strategies.

Clinical Consequences of Untreated Dental Caries, Individual Characteristics, and Environmental Factors on Self-Reported Oral Health Measures in Adolescents: A Follow-Up Prevalence Study

“…The association between clinical consequences of untreated dental caries and poor self-rated oral health suggests the long-term consequences of dental caries and their sequelae that remain untreated, predominantly resulting in odontogenic infections, influencing adolescents' perception of oral health. Although there is little evidence on this topic, the relationship between restorative treatment needs and self-perceived oral health has been reported [Banu et al, 2018], reinforcing the hypothesis that neglecting treatment of cavitated dental carious lesions in adolescents can negatively impact on their perception of oral health.…”

Impact of anterior occlusal conditions in the mixed dentition on oral health–related quality-of-life item levels:

“…The findings rejected the study hypothesis because, even when the quality of life was evaluated based on the item levels, the anterior occlusal characteristics in the mixed dentition had no impact on the OHRQoL. Previous studies 3,4,7,8,[20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] showed that an increased overjet and increased spacing, especially a midline diastema, were the conditions that most affected the individual, regardless of age. Still, the older children become, the more their malocclusion affects their a Values are given as n (%).…”

“…1 Mixed dentition is a transitional stage, characterized by a wide range of occlusal variations 2 and a high prevalence of malocclusion. 1,[3][4][5][6][7] In addition, occlusal conditions, such as increased overjet, deep overbite, dental crowding, and spacing, are malocclusions usually associated with dissatisfaction with dental appearance. 4 However, studies addressing the impact of occlusal conditions in the mixed dentition only quantified malocclusion 3,7-9 and did not consider the physiological changes inherent in this stage.…”

“…3,11 At this age, the child is in the mixed dentition, and conditions of the occlusion may negatively affect OHRQoL. 3,4,7,11,12 However, studies generally evaluate malocclusion 3,7-9 and not specific occlusal conditions. The associations between anterior occlusion characteristics and OHRQoL varied among various subgroups in malocclusion assessments 12 and justifies the study of such occlusal conditions in the mixed dentition.…”

Dental Caries among Refugees in Europe: A Systematic Literature Review

“…They can result in malnutrition due to alterations in diet, and phonation problems, especially in the older age group [ 10 ]. There is also higher body dissatisfaction [ 11 ] and simple acts of smiling, communicating and eating can be affected negatively [ 12 ]. Hence, oral health not only affects one’s general health, but also has an impact on mental health.…”