IADR Abstract Archives
Interventions for Children's Incisor Opacities: Do They Make a Difference?
Objectives: To evaluate change in child-reported oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) following non-invasive dental treatment to improve the appearance of permanent incisors affected by Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH).
Methods: Participants included children, aged 8-16 years, who requested for 'unsightly' enamel opacities involving one or more of their permanent incisors. All children were referred to Sheffield Dental Hospital, UK, for specialist management of their MIH. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Prior to any intervention (T0) children completed the short form Child Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (COHIP-SF19) as a measure of their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). They then received a variety of minimally invasive treatments to improve the appearance of their enamel opacities comprising microabrasion, resin infiltration (Icon,DMG), tooth whitening or composite resin restoration as appropriate. Participants were invited to a one-month review appointment and completed the same questionnaire again (T1). A paired t-test was employed to determine whether they were any significant differences in mean COHIP pre- and post-treatment.
Results: Forty-one children (mean age=11 years) with equal distribution according to gender and social deprivation were included in the analysis, with 12% of respondents from an ethnic minory group. The mean COHIP score at T0 was 44.2 (SD=8.55;range=0-76) and this increased significantly at T1 to 55.8 (SD=9.31;range=0-76)(p=0.001), indicating children's perceptions of improved OHRQoL. Furthermore, mean scores for each dimension within the measure were also significantly increased: oral health T0=11.3 and T1=13.7; functional wellbeing T0=13.2 and T1=14.1; socio-emotional wellbeing T0=20.0 and T1=28.0. Verbal and written feedback from the children supported this quantitative data with reports of increased confidence and willingness to smile.
Conclusions: This is the first study to show that simple non-invasive dental treatment to reduce the visibility of enamel opacities can have a profound impact on children's wellbeing.
Methods: Participants included children, aged 8-16 years, who requested for 'unsightly' enamel opacities involving one or more of their permanent incisors. All children were referred to Sheffield Dental Hospital, UK, for specialist management of their MIH. Ethical approval was obtained for the study. Prior to any intervention (T0) children completed the short form Child Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (COHIP-SF19) as a measure of their oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). They then received a variety of minimally invasive treatments to improve the appearance of their enamel opacities comprising microabrasion, resin infiltration (Icon,DMG), tooth whitening or composite resin restoration as appropriate. Participants were invited to a one-month review appointment and completed the same questionnaire again (T1). A paired t-test was employed to determine whether they were any significant differences in mean COHIP pre- and post-treatment.
Results: Forty-one children (mean age=11 years) with equal distribution according to gender and social deprivation were included in the analysis, with 12% of respondents from an ethnic minory group. The mean COHIP score at T0 was 44.2 (SD=8.55;range=0-76) and this increased significantly at T1 to 55.8 (SD=9.31;range=0-76)(p=0.001), indicating children's perceptions of improved OHRQoL. Furthermore, mean scores for each dimension within the measure were also significantly increased: oral health T0=11.3 and T1=13.7; functional wellbeing T0=13.2 and T1=14.1; socio-emotional wellbeing T0=20.0 and T1=28.0. Verbal and written feedback from the children supported this quantitative data with reports of increased confidence and willingness to smile.
Conclusions: This is the first study to show that simple non-invasive dental treatment to reduce the visibility of enamel opacities can have a profound impact on children's wellbeing.