Changes in Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life According to Public Oral Health Procedures in Parents of Young Children From the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study

Abstract

<p><strong>Objectives:</strong> The aim was to evaluate the association between public oral healthcare procedures and change in oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) over four years among parents in the FinnBrain Cohort Study, comparing those who did not visit public oral healthcare.</p><p><strong>Methods</strong>: Study used data on parents of young children from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study (www.finnbrain.fi) and healthcare centers’ national patient data register. OHRQoL was measured with the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). Of those who had answered the OHIP-14 questionnaire at gestational week (gw) 34 and 4-year time points (n=1552), 589 had visited a public oral healthcare service. OHIP-14 severity score, two thresholds of prevalence and their changes were evaluated according to gender and public oral healthcare visits (Mann-Whitney U test, ꭓ² test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test). Correlations between treatment procedures and OHRQoL were evaluated among those who had visited public oral healthcare service. Association between OHRQoL and its change with different treatment procedures were evaluated by using Spearman correlation coefficients.</p><p><strong></strong><strong>Results: </strong>OHRQoL did not change for the majority of parents, regardless of visiting public oral healthcare services, or if they received oral healthcare treatment or only preventive procedures. Change in OHRQoL and treatment procedures showed a weak association. OHRQoL worsened most for those receiving treatment in four or more procedure groups. Changes in OHRQoL were not clinically meaningful.<br></p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Oral healthcare procedures seem to have a limited impact on OHRQoL changes among parents of young children.</p>