title: Impact of untreated dental caries on quality of life of preschool children: different stages and activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present population-based cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between untreated dental caries, considering stages and activity, and the impact on OHRQoL among preschool children and their parents/caregivers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomly selected sample of 451 Brazilian preschool children aged three to 5 years underwent a clinical oral examination for the assessment of dental caries using the ICDAS II criteria. Parents/caregivers were asked to answer two questionnaires: one on the OHRQoL of the children (ECOHIS) and another on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the children and families. Statistical analysis involved descriptive statistics, the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test and hierarchically adjusted Poisson regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of early childhood caries was 51.2%. The majority of teeth with caries exhibited severe decay (60.6%). Untreated severe decay, such as active lesions within visible dentin (P < 0.001), extensive active and inactive cavity without pulp exposure or fistula (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively), extensive cavity with pulp exposure and absence of fistula (P = 0.003) and root remnant (P = 0.002), were associated with a negative impact on quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active and inactive untreated severe carious lesions were associated with a negative impact on the quality of life of preschoolers and their parents/caregivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Vale do Rio Verde, Três Corações, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramos-Jorge
authors.forename: Isabela A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Pordeus
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ramos-Jorge
authors.forename: Leandro S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Saul M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003945:Diagnosis, Oral; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: dental caries; early childhood caries; oral health-related quality of life; preschool children