title: Oral-health-related quality of life in schoolchildren in an endemic fluorosis area of Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the oral-health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children living in an endemic hydrofluorosis area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Schoolchildren aged 8-10 years living in an area with 3.38 ppm F water concentration completed a validated Spanish version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ(8-10ESP)). World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were applied for the diagnosis of dental caries and malocclusion. Additionally, the Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index (TFI) was used for fluorosis diagnosis. CPQ(8-10ESP) scores and oral health status were analyzed using non-parametric tests and logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and twelve schoolchildren participated in this study. The mean CPQ(8-10ESP) score was 12.98 (SD 11.4). General oral health was rated as "poor" in 14.6%, "fair" in 41.5%, "good" in 25.9%, and "very good" in 17.9% of the children. Regarding overall well-being, half (51.6%) of the children perceived that the condition of their mouths disturbs their quality of life (QoL). Children with dental fluorosis (TF >4) had a high CPQ(8-10ESP) score in all domains (P < 0.005). Additionally, children with DMFS + dmfs >5 had higher scores in the oral symptoms, functional limitation, and emotional well-being CPQ(8-10ESP) domains (P < 0.05). Applying a CPQ(8-10ESP) cutoff point of 32, the OR values for severe malocclusion, caries, and fluorosis were 5.2 (P = 0.034), 4.6 (P = 0.006), and 5.1 (P = 0.007), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malocclusion, caries, and fluorosis were associated with a negative impact on children's QoL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico. fatimaguilar@gmail.com
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Díaz
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Irigoyen-Camacho
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Borges-Yáñez
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides