The Correlation Between Odontogenic Infection and Total Spectrum of Dental Caries with Oral Health Related Quality of Life in Children with Intellectual Disabilities

Objective: : Children with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) have a higher rate of untreated caries and often progress to caries with pulpal involvement or odontogenic infections. This can be assessed using the Caries Assessment Spectrum and Treatment (CAST) index and the Pulp Ulcer Fistula Abscess (PUFA) index. Dental problems often have an impact on quality of life, so Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) assessment is needed for ID children. Purpose: To identify and analyze the correlation between odontogenic infection, the total spectrum of caries, and OHRQoL in ID children. Methods: : The subjects of the research were 70 ID children who attended Special Needs Schools (SNS) Type D of the Foundation for the Development of Disabled Children (FDDC). This research uses an analytical survey using questionnaires and interviews to assess OHRQoL. The sampling technique, namely Total Sampling, obtained 43 ID child subjects who met the inclusion criteria. The data were tested statistically using the Spearman Correlation non-parametric test and the t -test. Results: : The average value of odontogenic infection in the population was 1.79, including in the poor category, and the total spectrum of dental caries was 51.16%, including severe morbidity. Multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between odontogenic infection, total spectrum of caries, and OHRQoL; odontogenic infection with total dental caries spectrum was significantly associated with each p-value = 0.0000, while the correlation between OHRQoL and both odontogenic infection and total caries spectrum had p-values > 0.05, respectively, so it is considered not significant. Conclusion: : Odontogenic infection in ID children is a poor category. The total spectrum of dental caries in ID children mostly includes severe morbidity. There is a correlation between odontogenic infections, the total spectrum of dental caries, and OHRQoL, as well as between odontogenic infections and the total spectrum of dental caries. Keywords: odontogenic infection, dental caries, oral health related quality of life, intellectual disabilities