Impact of oral health conditions on oral health-related quality of life in children with special healthcare needs: A systematic review

Objective: The extent and nature of the impact of special healthcare needs (SHCNs) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) of children remain inadequately synthesized. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the association between various oral health conditions and OHRQoL among children with SHCN. Methodology: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases including PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, along with manual searches. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were screened by two reviewers based on predefined criteria. Data extraction, performed by two reviewers, focused on study characteristics, types of disabilities, oral health conditions evaluated, OHRQoL tools used, and key findings. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Results: Of the 27 included studies, 12 had moderate RoB, whereas the rest of the studies had low RoB. The most studied conditions were dental caries ( n = 24), followed by periodontal diseases ( n = 11), malocclusion ( n = 7), dental trauma ( n = 6), and dental erosion ( n = 2). The included disabilities included cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, visual, hearing and mental impairment, etc., Dental caries and periodontal diseases were significantly associated with poor OHRQoL in most studies. The impact of malocclusion and dental trauma on OHRQoL was inconsistent, while dental erosion showed no significant effect. Conclusion: Dental caries and periodontal diseases adversely affect OHRQoL in children with SHCN. The evidence for other conditions remains limited and inconsistent. Future longitudinal studies with standardized, child-centered OHRQoL assessments are needed to strengthen the evidence base.