Impact of Dental Caries on Quality of Life of Primary School Children aged 8–10 Years in Al-Najaf City, Iraq Alshmaa Zahraa M.1,*, Alwaheb Athraa M.2 1Dentist, Al-Najaf, Ministry of Health and Environment, Iraq 2Professor, Preventive Dentistry, College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad, Iraq *Corresponding Author: Zahraa M. Alshmaa, Dentist, Al-Najaf, Ministry of Health and Environment, Iraq, Email: zahraamohammeddd@gmail.com
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Background Dental caries is the most common oral diseases affecting human beings throughout the world particularly in childhood. It has been recognized that children's quality of life is related to their oral health status. The aim of current study was to investigate the impact of dental caries on quality of life of primary school children. Methods: The total sample composed of 1200 children aged (8–10) years selected randomly from different primary schools in Al-Najaf governorate. WHO 2013 index was used for assessment of dental caries experience and OHRQoL questionnaire was distributed among children. Results Data from current study showed that the prevalence of dental caries was 98.00% for total sample, no significant differences were seen between OHRQoL questionnaires and dental caries experience DMFT of permanent teeth except questions concerning Children's school were significant, while a significant relation was seen in primary teeth. Conclusion Primary schools children in Al-Najaf were found to have a high prevalence of dental caries and this disease was found to have an effect on quality of children's life. Hence, this survey highlighted the need of children for dental health education programs and public as well as school preventive measures among those children. Top Keywords Quality of life, Dental caries, School children, DMFT, OHRQoL. Top |