Association of Early and Severe Early Childhood Caries with Oral Health-Related Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Survey

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Early childhood caries (ECC) and severe early childhood caries (S-ECC) are oral health problems that affect many preschool children worldwide. ECC and S-ECC negatively impact the quality of life of preschool children, including functional, psychological, and social well-being, as well as their families. There is no updated data regarding the prevalence of ECC and S-ECC in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, no study has been conducted on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) with regard to ECC and S-ECC among preschool children in Jeddah. Thus, this investigation aimed to determine the prevalence of ECC and S-ECC in children 3 to 5 years old in Jeddah and its relation to OHRQoL. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional survey was carried out on 322 children randomly selected from different preschools in Jeddah. The early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) questionnaires were distributed and completed by the parents followed by clinical examination. The dmft and dmfs index scores were determined by WHO diagnostic criteria. <b>Results</b>: A total of 322 preschool children were included in the final sample. The results indicated a caries prevalence rate of 74.2% with ECC and S-ECC prevalence rates of 34.2% and 40.1%, respectively. The mean ± SD dmft and dmfs scores were 4.6 ± 0.4 and 10.8 ± 0.9, respectively. The mean ± SD total score of the early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) was 6.1 ± 7.3. S-ECC was significantly associated with higher ECOHIS scores (<i>p</i> < 0.001) after controlling for age. <b>Conclusions</b>: ECC and S-ECC are highly prevalent in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and negatively impact OHRQoL.