Oral Health Status and Oral Health-related Quality of Life among Children Born Preterm: A Cross-sectional Study.

Aims and background: Neonatal factors like gestational age have a major impact on the general and oral growth and development of the child. To compensate for the low birth weight and enhance weight gain, preterm children are often exposed to more frequent cariogenic food intakes between meals and during the night, and these are well-known risk factors for early childhood caries (ECC). ECC in preterm children might also impact the quality of life of the child and parent. This study evaluates the oral health status and quality of life among children born preterm. Materials and methods: A clinical examination of 150 preterm children was done to evaluate their oral health status. The Oral Health-related Early Childhood Quality of Life (OH-ECQoL) tool was used to assess the quality of life. Results: The mean age of children in years was 4.99. A total of 72% of the children were introduced to oral hygiene after the age of 24 months, 52% of children had moderate caries, and 8% had severe caries. Children born at 32-36 weeks had a reduced likelihood of ECC as compared to those born before 32 weeks. Conclusion: From this study, it may be concluded that children born preterm had higher caries prevalence and poorer quality of life. Early guidance on oral health is needed to combat the health disparity among these children. Longitudinal studies to understand the long-term impact of preterm on oral health are needed. Clinical significance: Preterm children are at higher risk of having dental diseases. Identification of disparities and challenges faced by preterm children related to oral health needs to be focused on, as the prevalence of preterm children is high among the Indian population. How to cite this article: Devraj IM, Girish MS, Sushma K,