A Comparative Study of Oral Health and Oral Health-Related Quality of Life in Children Aged 2–7 Years with Cerebral Palsy and Healthy Controls

Background and purpose: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a motor disorder that results from congenital abnormalities or brain injury. Children with CP often experience a higher prevalence of dental problems. This study aimed to assess oral health and oral health–related quality of life in children aged 2–7 years with CP in comparison to healthy children, using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) and the number of decayed, missing, or filled teeth (dmft). Materials and methods: In this case–control study, 54 children aged 2–7 years with CP were selected from rehabilitation centers, and 54 healthy children were selected from two dental clinics, all through convenience sampling. Following interviews with the parents, the oral health-related quality of life questionnaire, which includes a Child Impact Section (CIS) and a Family Impact Section (FIS), was completed. The dmft index was assessed via clinical dental examinations. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22, employing the independent t-test, Pearson correlation, linear regression, and Chi-square tests (P < 0.05). Results: The mean age and percentage of boys in the CP group were 5.37 ± 1.87 years and 55.6%, respectively, while in the control group they were 6.02 ± 1.91 years and 53.7%. The mean dmft values for children with CP (7.70 ± 6.30) and healthy children (7.43 ± 5.80) did not differ significantly (P = 0.812). However, the healthy group had a significantly higher total number of teeth (P=0.009). No significant differences were observed in ECOHIS, CIS, or FIS scores between the two groups. Among children with CP, an increase in dmft was positively correlated with ECOHIS and its subscales (P = 0.001, r= 0.52). No significant differences related to gender or age were observed. Conclusion: Based on the ECOHIS index, there was no significant difference in oral health-related quality of life between the two groups. However, children with CP exhibited a poorer overall oral health condition compared to healthy children, despite not being at a higher risk for dental caries.