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

OBJECTIVE

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.

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 (κ > 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).

CONCLUSIONS

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.