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ORAL HEALTH STATUS AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE DANUBE DELTA RESERVE BIOSPHERE – CHILD AND PARENT PERSPECTIVES
Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of oral health issues of children aged 6-12 living in the Danube Delta Romania, on their quality of life, as assessed by the children themselves as well as by their parents/guardians. Methods: This study had a cross-sectional design and was conducted in all 595 school children aged 6-12 years old living in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, an isolated area of Romania. The research protocol received all the approvals on behalf of the ethical local authorities and each individual school. Informed consent from each parent or guardian was received for each child included in the study. All children were clinically examined based on the World Health Organization 1997 criteria. Dental caries, periodontal health, oral hygiene, orthodontic status and dental fluorosis were assessed. Results: The overall mean DMFT was 2.01 (range 0 – 13). Gingival bleeding was found in 32.8% of the children and oral hygiene had worsened with age. Orthodontic status was found having good status (89% of children presented an IOTN score of 1 or 2) and only 2% had any noticeable fluorosis. The children with oral health issues present a significantly lower oral health related quality of life than children without oral health problems, assessed both by the children and their parents/guardians was assessed with MOHRQOL index. Conclusions: Due the lownumber of caries free children living in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the high prevalence of children with gingival bleeding and poor oral hygiene, the status of oral health was found poor and proved to affect the children’s OHRQOL. Oral health related QOL can be assessed validly and reliable both in self-reports from children as well as by asking their parents/guardians about their perceptions on their children’s oral health related QOL. Oral health education programs are necessary for the children living in this poor economic development region, with limited access to dental services.
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