The impacts of gingivitis and calculus on Thai children's quality of life

AbstractAimTo assess associations of socio‐demographic, behavioural and the extent of gingivitis and calculus with oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) in nationally representative samples of 12‐ and 15‐year‐old Thai children.Material and MethodsIn the Thailand National Oral Health Survey, 1,063 twelve‐year olds and 811 fifteen‐year olds were clinically examined and interviewed for OHRQoL using the Child‐OIDP and OIDP indices, respectively, and completed a behavioural questionnaire. We assessed associations of condition‐specific impacts (CS‐impacts) with gingivitis and calculus, adjusted for socio‐demographic and behavioural factors.ResultsGingivitis and calculus were highly prevalent: 79.3% in 12‐year and 81.5% in 15‐year olds. CS‐impacts relating to calculus and/or gingivitis were reported by 26.0% of 12‐year and 29.6% of 15‐year olds. Except for calculus without gingivitis, calculus and/or gingivitis in any form was significantly related to any level of CS‐impacts. At a moderate or higher level of CS‐impacts, there were significant relationships with extensive calculus and/or gingivitis in 12‐year olds and for extensive gingivitis and gingivitis without calculus in 15‐year olds.ConclusionsGingivitis was generally associated with any level of CS‐impacts attributed to calculus and/or gingivitis. CS‐impacts were related more to gingivitis than to calculus.