Traumatic dental injuries and oral health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with special health care needs in Eastern India: A case-control study

Aim: This matched case-control study aimed to investigate the prevalence of traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and its impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in hearing and/or visually impaired children attending government special schools in Eastern India.

Methods: A two-step cluster analysis was performed to define cases and controls based on the Parental-Caregivers Perceptions Questionnaire (PCP-Q) scores from the 228 parent/guardian responses. The cases included children with a higher negative impact on OHRQoL (89 subjects), whereas the controls were those with a lower negative impact on OHRQoL (139 subjects). Groups were matched for age and gender and researchers were blinded to case/control status. Binary logistic regression was performed.

Results: The prevalence of TDI among the study subjects was 24.12%. Compared to subjects in the control group (16.5%), a significantly higher proportion of cases (36%) reported a history of TDI. Children with TDI had considerably higher OHRQoL scores across all P-CPQ sub-scales. Falls were the most common cause of TDI, primarily at home or school and none received treatment.

Conclusion: TDI significantly impacts OHRQoL in these children. Lack of treatment highlights the need for caregiver awareness and improved dental access for children with special needs. Further research with larger samples and specialized OHRQoL tools is recommended.