Methods: 1,021 pairs of children (0-5 years) and caregivers were recruited using a two-stage probability sample of households in Detroit. Caregivers were interviewed and had dental exams at baseline, 2 and 4 yrs; the final sample was 557. Caries was measured using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System. SF-8TM Physical/Mental Component Summary Scores (PCS/MCS) assessed HRQoL; 8 items assessed OHRQOL. Factor analysis identified two factors – Social functioning (SF) and Eating/Drinking (E/D). Factor scores were dependent measures. Multivariate cumulative logit regression analyses were conducted using SUDAAN to account for the sampling design.
Results: The sample consisted of 96% females with an average age at baseline of 28 yrs. Average DTMFS scores in Wave 1 were 27.6; 30.2 Wave 2; 37.1 Wave 3. Mean scores for PCS were 50.6 at Wave 1; 50.9 Wave 2; mean scores for MCS were 48.9 and 49.5. 45-35% of caregivers reported problems with E/D; few (11-5%) reported problems with talking, smiling, laughing, kissing, going to work/school (SF). There was a significant decline in E/D function over the 3 waves but significant improvement in SF. In multivariate analyses PCS was significantly related to S/F; being in the middle quartiles was associated with lower S/F. MCS was negatively related to S/F and E/D. DMFTS was not related to OHRQoL.
Conclusions: Participants experienced serious impacts on E/D which worsened over time. SF was less affected and improved. OHRQoL and HRQoL were related but associations were weak. Clinical oral health status was not related to OHRQoL but this is likely due to limited variation in the high prevalence of dental disease in this sample. Grant#U-54DE14261