Efeito do tratamento restaurador na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal em adolescentes

Abstract

Background: Untreated cavitated caries has been associated with a decline on the oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL); however, little is known about the effect of restorative treatment on the OHRQoL. Aim: To assess the effect of restorative treatment on the OHRQoL of South Brazilian adolescents. Methods: This longitudinal study included a convenience sample composed by 128 adolescents aged 10-15 years who received restorative treatment for cavitated caries lesions in a university clinic in Santa Maria, Brazil. OHRQoL was measured through the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire for children aged 11 to 14 years (CPQ11-14). The questionnaire was answered through a face-toface interview with the participant before the restorative treatment and 1 month after its completion. Parents/legal guardians answered questions about socioeconomic status. Paired ttest and effect size calculation were used to evaluate changes in mean CPQ11-14 scores after completion of treatment. Results: The mean CPQ11-14 total score before treatment was 15.9 (SD = 10.3), and this mean decreased to 6.3 (SD = 6.5) after treatment completion (P <0.001). The same pattern was observed in the four domains of CPQ11-14 (Oral Symptoms, Functional Limitation, Emotional Well-Being and Social Well-Being). Effect sizes varied from 0.4 to 1.1, with Oral Symptoms and Emotional Well-being domains showing the greatest changes after completion of restorative treatment. Conclusions: The restorative treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the OHRQoL of the evaluated adolescents.