Effects of the Dental Preventive Health Services for Children on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of public preventive dental healthcare services named the “Dental Preventive Health Services for Children” (DPHSC) on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in Korean children. Of the total 20,802 beneficiaries in 2018, 110 10-year-old elementary school students were randomly selected and were requested to complete a survey using the Korean version of Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) questionnaire before and after participating in DPHSC. Overall, 107 participants completed the pre- and post-survey. COHIP scores and clinical results such as numbers of decayed and missing teeth, malocclusion, and oral hygiene status from dental examination were statistically analyzed and the reliability and the validity of the responses were verified. There was a significant clinical increase in mean overall COHIP scores following DPHSC (<i>p</i> < 0.001, effect size 1.05). Children with decayed and missing teeth demonstrated poor OHRQoL. In conclusion, DPHSC can improve the OHRQoL of 10-year-old children.