J. Clin. Med. 2026, 15(11), 4314; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15114314 - 2 Jun 2026
Abstract
Objectives: To systematically review the evidence on the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children, focusing on studies using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) or its validated language versions. Methods
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Objectives: To systematically review the evidence on the association between early childhood caries (ECC) and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in preschool children, focusing on studies using the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS) or its validated language versions. Methods: This systematic review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Electronic searches identified primary observational studies published within the last 10 years. Eligible studies included preschool children, clinically assessed ECC/caries, and OHRQoL measured with ECOHIS or a validated, adapted version. Data extraction covered study characteristics, caries assessment, OHRQoL measures, and main findings. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. Results: Twenty studies were included (19 cross-sectional and 1 cohort) with sample sizes ranging from 151 to 1783 participants. Across diverse populations and settings, ECC was consistently associated with poorer OHRQoL in preschool children and their families. Greater caries severity, untreated lesions, and advanced disease consequences were generally linked to higher ECOHIS scores. The most affected domains were pain, eating and drinking difficulties, sleep disturbance, irritability, and family distress. Conclusions: The available evidence consistently indicates that ECC is associated with poorer OHRQoL in preschool children and their families. From a clinical perspective, incorporating OHRQoL measures into pediatric dental assessment may improve recognition of disease burden beyond clinical indices alone.
Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pediatric Dentistry: Recent Advances, Current Issues and Future Challenges)
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