Impact of a Community‐Based Preventive Oral Health Program on Oral Health‐Related Quality of Life in School‐Aged Children

BACKGROUND: Although community-based programs are implemented to promote children's oral health, evidence regarding their impact on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) remains limited. AIM: To evaluate changes in OHRQoL among schoolchildren following participation in a community-based oral health program and to identify factors associated with post-intervention OHRQoL. DESIGN: This observational pre-post study included 668 schoolchildren in Seoul, South Korea, participating in the Student Dental Home Program. OHRQoL was assessed before and after the program using the Korean COHIP-SF 19. Changes in scores were analyzed using paired t-tests, and factors associated with post-intervention OHRQoL were examined using ANCOVA and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: Total scores increased significantly (mean difference 3.7, 95% CI 3.3-4.1; Cohen's d = 0.66). Significant increases were observed across all subscales, with the largest effect in the Oral Health subscale (d = 0.81). In the simple regression analyses, spontaneous tooth pain, gingival bleeding, halitosis, and malocclusion were associated with lower scores. In the multivariable model, malocclusion remained the only factor independently associated with lower scores (B -0.66, 95% CI-1.37 to -0.01, p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: OHRQoL scores increased following participation in a community-based oral health program. Malocclusion remained independently associated with lower post-intervention OHRQoL after baseline adjustment.