Objective

: To analyze the oral health status and its relationship with the quality of life of Andean children of the community of Paucarbamba in Huancavelica, Peru.

Material and Methods

: The observational, cross-sectional, and correlational study was conducted on a sample of 120 children aged 3-5 years. Early childhood caries was considered using the dmft index. In addition, presence and type of malocclusion were assessed. The oral health-related quality of life was measured by The Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analysis were performed. Linear regression and Spearman correlation were conducted to identify the factors that most explained the ECOHIS score.

Results

: Multiple linear regression by least squares method did not consider gender, age, malocclusion, and simplified oral hygiene index as significant. This analysis only included dmft index as significant (p<0.05) to explicate the ECOHIS score. The estimated regression model was ECOHIS score = 11.67 + 0.79*dmft, in which the score increased by 0,79 for each unit obtained of the dmft index, and the dmft in a R2 = 30% (p<0.001) explained the variability of the ECOHIS score achieved.

Conclusions

: There is a negative impact of dental caries on the quality of life of preschool children and their families in an Andean community in Paucarbamba, Peru.

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