Impact of the presence of clinical consequences of pulp involvement due to caries on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Brazilian schoolchildren: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This cross-sectional study investigated the impact of pulp involvement on schoolchildren`s Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL). Methods: Schoolchildren aged 5, 8 and 12 from 26 schools of Petropolis, Brazil, were examined. Dental caries was evaluated through dmf-t/DMF-T index and pulp involvement through pufa/PUFA index. Three groups were defined: caries-free (dmf-t/DMF-T = 0), caries without pulp involvement (dmf-t/DMF-T ≥ 1, pufa/PUFA = 0), and caries with pulp involvement (dmf-t/DMF-T ≥ 1, pufa/PUFA ≥ 1). A questionnaire with socioeconomic characteristics, C-OIDP instrument and a toothache question was sent to guardians. The impact on OHRQoL was analyzed as categorical and numerical variables. Poisson regression was used for the categorical, and negative binomial regression for the numerical variable (significance p < 0.05). Results: Pulp involvement negatively impacted OHRQoL. In 5-year-olds, it led to a 2.08 times higher prevalence of impact (95% CI:1.12-3.86) and a 2.41-point higher C-OIDP score (95% CI:1.04-5.59) compared to caries-free children. In 8-year-olds, the association was significant when OHRQoL impact was analyzed as a numerical variable (RR = 2.06; 95% CI:1.23-3.43). In 12-year-olds, no significant association was found. Conclusion: Pulp involvement was associated to negative impact on children`s OHRQoL. Toothache was the most significant factor related to this impact.