Quality of Life in a Patient with Early Childhood Caries: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction: Early childhood caries is described as the presence of one or more decayed, missing, or filled tooth surfaces in any primary tooth in children under 6 years of age. It can lead to oral complications, affect behavior, learning, and the well-being of the child and their family, ultimately impacting the patient's quality of life. Case Report: A 3-year-old preschooler, Frankl score 2, overweight. She attends the consultation accompanied by her mother, who expresses great concern about her daughter’s dental pain and the therapeutic options. Complete primary dentition, severe early childhood caries, loss of vertical dimension, gingivitis associated with bacterial plaque, causing discomfort during toothbrushing. The treatment includes dietary and oral hygiene counseling, dental chair adaptation, and the application of the ECOHIS questionnaire, which assesses oral health-related quality of life in children and their families. It was found that among the five dimensions, the most affected were oral symptoms and function. Conclusions: Based on the results of the questionnaire and the clinical case, the need to strengthen early and specific interventions is emphasized, considering the factors affecting the child. Moreover, it is important to create an efficient communication channel between the various professionals involved in the growth and development of children and their families, in order to improve children's oral health and their quality of life. Keywords: Early childhood caries – Quality of life – Pediatric dentistry.