Association between dental caries activity, quality of life and obesity in Brazilian adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: The impact of oral conditions on quality of life in overweight/obesity needs to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dental caries activity, quality of life and obesity in Brazilian adolescents. Materials and methods: This study was conducted at public schools in Brazil, on a sample of 202 adolescents, 12 years of age. For anthropometric evaluation, the body mass index (BMI)-for-age was used. In oral examinations, the Decayed, Missing, Filled teeth (DMFT), significant caries (SiC) and dental caries activity (DCA) indices were used (j > 0.94). The Child-Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (Child-OIDP) index was applied. The sample was divided into two groups: O (overweight/obese; n = 101) and N (normal weight; n = 101). For data analysis, chi-square, odds ratio (OR), Wilcoxon and Pearson correlation tests were used (P < 0.05). Results: The DMFT scores were 1.67 and 2.12 and the SiC scores were 3.85 and 4.26 for groups O and N, respectively. BMI-for-age was significantly related to DCA (OR = 0.579; P < 0.000) and to SiC (OR = 0.649; P = 0.024). There were differences between the groups in eating, cleaning mouth, emotional status, smiling, studying and the overall Child-OIDP (P < 0.05). Positive associations between the impacts on eating, cleaning mouth and smiling were found (P < 0.05). DMFT values showed significant correlation with the emotional status performance in group O and the DCA was positively correlated with performance at school in group O (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Obesity, dental caries and quality of life were not correlated. Adolescents with normal weight presented a low perception of the impact of oral conditions on quality of life; however, it seemed to affect psychological aspects in their daily performances. Providing adolescents with nutritional assistance may prevent obesity and dental caries, and improve their quality of life.