BACKGROUND Preschool years are a critical period in the development of a healthy child. The consequences of poor oral health in preschool children reach beyond dental problems, with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) being associated with overall systematic health as well as one's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of dental caries and its impacts on the OHRQoL in a sample of preschool children in Kisarawe. METHODS A cross-sectional based study was conducted in 2017. A total of 1106 preschool children completed a face-to-face interview, using a translated Kiswahili version of the Michigan Oral Health-related Quality of Life Scale (MOHRQoL) -Child Version (2003), and underwent clinical oral examination using WHO (1997) criteria. RESULTS The decayed component was the most prevalent (dft = 2.08) and the Significant Caries Index (SiC) was 5.54 double of the (dft), showing polarization of dental caries in the studied population. After adjusting for appropriate covariates, preschool children of age 5 and 6 years old were more likely to have decayed tooth [Adjusted OR = 3.02, (95% CI =2.01-4.54)] and [Adjusted OR = 2.23, (95% CI = 1.55-3.20)] respectively. Preschool children without visible plaque on the buccal surface of upper anterior teeth were less likely to have decayed teeth [Adjusted OR = 0.21, (95% CI = 0.09-0.45)]. Regarding measurements of oral health-related quality of life using the MOHRQoL, only preschool children who reported on 'do your teeth hurt you now?' and 'do kids make fun of your teeth?' were more likely to have a decayed tooth [Adjusted OR = 1.74, (95% CI = 1.12-2.71)] and [Adjusted OR = 1.87, (95% CI = 1.11-3.15)], respectively. CONCLUSION Findings from this study suggest that dental caries affects a significant portion of preschool children and, was associated with poor oral hygiene. The overall impacts of dental caries prevalence to OHRQoL were low in this sample of preschool children. Children having caries (independent variable) were shown to report more frequently that 'do your teeth hurt you now?' and 'do kids make fun of your teeth?' were more likely to have a decayed tooth among preschool children in Kisarawe, Tanzania.

中文翻译：

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坦桑尼亚Kisarawe 4-6岁学龄前儿童的乳牙龋齿患病率和与口腔健康相关的生活质量。

背景技术学龄前是健康儿童成长的关键时期。学龄前儿童口腔健康状况不佳的后果超出了牙科问题，与口腔健康相关的生活质量（OHRQoL）与整体系统健康以及一个人的生活质量有关。这项研究的目的是评估基萨瓦的学龄前儿童样本中龋齿的患病率及其对OHRQoL的影响。方法2017年进行了一项基于横断面的研究。总共1106名学龄前儿童使用密西根州口腔健康相关生活质量量表（MOHRQoL）-儿童版（ （2003），并根据WHO（1997）标准进行了临床口腔检查。结果衰减的成分最为普遍（dft = 2。08），而有效龋齿指数（SiC）则是（dft）的5.54倍，显示了研究人群中龋齿的两极分化。在调整了适当的协变量之后，年龄在5岁和6岁的学龄前儿童更容易出现龋齿[校正后OR = 3.02，（95％CI = 2.01-4.54）]和[校正后OR = 2.23，（95％CI = 1.55-3.20）]。学龄前儿童在上前牙颊表面上没有可见的牙菌斑的牙齿腐烂的可能性较小[调整后的OR = 0.21，（95％CI = 0.09-0.45）]。关于使用MOHRQoL进行的口腔健康相关生活质量的测量，只有学龄前儿童报告“您的牙齿现在对您有伤害吗？” 和“孩子们取笑你的牙齿吗？” 牙齿腐烂的可能性更大[校正后OR = 1.74，（95％CI = 1.12-2.71）]和[校正后OR = 1.87，（95％CI = 1.11-3.15）]。结论从这项研究中发现，龋齿影响了学龄前儿童的很大一部分，并且与不良的口腔卫生有关。在这个学龄前儿童样本中，龋齿患病率对OHRQoL的总体影响较低。有龋齿（独立变量）的孩子被证明更经常报告“你的牙齿现在伤害了你吗？” 和“孩子们取笑你的牙齿吗？” 坦桑尼亚基萨拉威的学龄前儿童牙齿蛀牙的可能性更高。有龋齿（独立变量）的孩子被证明更经常报告“你的牙齿现在伤害了你吗？” 和“孩子们取笑你的牙齿吗？” 坦桑尼亚基萨拉威的学龄前儿童牙齿蛀牙的可能性更高。有龋齿（独立变量）的孩子被证明更经常报告“你的牙齿现在伤害了你吗？” 和“孩子们取笑你的牙齿吗？” 坦桑尼亚基萨拉威的学龄前儿童牙齿蛀牙的可能性更高。