Method: Case-control study was designed measuring the influence of oral conditions on OHRQoL among Brazilian schoolchildren aged from 11 to 14 years. Case group comprised of 69 schoolchildren with negative impact on OHRQoL and control group was made up 276 schoolchildren without negative impact. One analysis was matched for gender, age, and socioeconomic status and the other was unmatched. The influence of oral disease on OHRQoL was verified using the short form of the Brazilian version of the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ 11-14 – ISF: 16) was administered. Oral examinations were performed for diagnosis of dental caries (World Health Organization criterion), traumatic dental injury (Andreasen classification) and malocclusion (Dental Aesthetic Index). Children oral examinations were performed by three examiners, previously calibrated. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out.
Result: Univariate and multiple conditional logistic regressions in the matched analyses showed no association between impact on OHRQoL and dental caries, traumatic dental injury or malocclusion. Multiple binary logistic regression for unmatched analysis revealed a statistically significant association between negative impact on OHRQoL and malocclusion (OR=1.93; 95%CI: 1.11–3.35).
Conclusion: Variables such as gender, age and socioeconomic status may contribute to explain the impact on OHRQoL and probably should not be matched, as observed in the unmatched analysis.