Abstract:
Background: Dental cavities remain a major global health issue in both developed and underdeveloped nations. Acute and chronic infections, as well as changes in eating and sleeping patterns, can result from pain and discomfort caused by severe caries, which can profoundly affect children's overall quality of life.
Aim: to evaluate the impact of full-mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia (GA) on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of Egyptian children younger than five years. Methodology: The study involved 18 Egyptian children, ages 2 to 5, who participated in an observational analysis. The children's oral health-related quality of life was assessed using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale Questionnaire (ECOHIS) before and after treatment under general anesthesia. Height and weight were recorded pre- and post-treatment. Body mass index (BMI), along with dental and clinical data were evaluated at baseline and during follow-up visits at three and six months after surgery.
Results: The study included 18 caregivers, with an average age of 32.28 ±10.05 years, and children with a mean age of 3.45 ±.82 years. All children, regardless of age or sex, had a significant incidence of dental cavities. Prior to full-mouth rehabilitation (FMR) under GA, OHRQoL was negatively affected. After the procedure, significant improvements were observed across all evaluated aspects (P<0.05). Six months' follow-up scores showed a mean of 0.77±0.68, compared to the baseline mean of 2.20±1.03 for the entire ECOHIS.
Conclusion: OHRQoL significantly improved in all areas assessed following FMR under GA, benefiting children and their families.