Oral Health-Related Quality of Life and Care Index of Children with Learning Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: Children and adolescents with learning disabilities have higher unmet dental needs, but the quality of life provided by their parents, which can influence dental care, has not been determined.This study aims to investigate the correlation between the Care Index (CI) and the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Index. Material and Methods: For this, 184 children aged 5 to 18 with learning disabilities were categorized into three groups. Dental caries assessments were conducted, and parents provided insights on quality of life using a pre-developed, validated questionnaire. Chi-square tests and regression analysis were used to compare groups and assess the correlation between the CI and the Oral Health Related Quality of Life Index. Results: Children with Down syndrome (DS) had the highest decayed, missing, filled teeth(DMFT) score at 14.95 ± 28.71, followed by autistic children at 12.54 ± 20.73. In terms of Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL), children with DS scored highest at 30.15 ± 15.81. A positive correlation was found between caries experience and OHRQoL, with caries in DS children being 2.45 times more likely to affect their OHRQoL negatively, compared to 1.20 times for autistic children. Conclusion: Untreated dental caries impacts oral health and social behaviour. Factors such as caries severity, caregiver education, and the child's age significantly affect the OHRQoL in children with Special Health Care Needs (SHCN). A supervised toothbrushing program with fluoridated toothpaste and topical fluoride in schools is crucial.