Children's perceptions regarding functional limitations due to oral problems

To evaluate factors associated with difficulty eating and speaking due to oral problems according to the reports of children.

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 769 5-year-old children at preschools in a city in northeast Brazil. Parents/caretakers answered a questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data and a history of dental pain. The children answered the scale of oral health outcomes for 5-year-old children, which was used to evaluate the dependent variables. Clinical examinations of the children were performed by examiners who had undergone calibration exercises. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and Poisson regression analysis (α = 5%).

The prevalence of the perception of functional limitations on the part of the children was 35.5% for difficulty eating and 22.9% for difficulty speaking. Difficulty eating was associated with a history of dental pain (PR = 1.68; 95% CI 1.27-2.22) and the occurrence of traumatic dental injury (TDI) (PR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.01-1.52). Difficulty speaking due to oral problems was associated with studying at a public preschool (PR = 1.71; 95% CI 1.19-2.46), a history of dental pain (PR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.07-2.20), and the occurrence of TDI (PR = 1.52; 95% CI 1.12-2.06).

Pain symptoms and the occurrence of TDI can exert an influence on the development of functional limitations. With regard to socioeconomic factors, studying at a public preschool can influence difficulty speaking in children.