CARIES AND TOOTH LOSS IN THE FIRST PERMANENT MOLAR AND THE EMOTIONAL IMPACT ON CHILDREN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Dental caries and tooth loss are significant oral conditions that impact quality of life when they affect the first permanent molars. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of caries and tooth loss in first permanent molars and their emotional association in children. This is a cross-sectional and analytical study, conducted with 59 children aged 6 to 12 years from a public school. Data collection included clinical examination, questionnaire, and use of the Faces Pain Scale – Revised. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman correlation, adopting a significance level of 5%. Children with caries presented higher scores for discomfort when eating and shame related to smiling; dental pain showed a borderline association. Tooth loss was associated with discomfort when eating and a tendency towards greater difficulty sleeping. The experience of caries was associated with dental pain, and higher DMFT/dmft scores showed a positive correlation with quality of life. These findings suggest that the experience of caries can cumulatively impact children's functional and psychosocial well-being. It is concluded that caries was related to functional and psychosocial impairments, while tooth loss should be interpreted with caution due to its low frequency.