Eda ODABAŞ, Kadriye Görkem ULU GÜZEL
Meandros Medical and Dental Journal - 2026;27(3):465-472
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate changes in oral health -related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children with early childhood caries treated under general anesthesia (GA) and to assess whether treatment -related factors were associated with these changes. Materials and Methods: This prospective cohort study included 35 pediatric patients under 72 months of age who underwent comprehensive dental treatment under GA. All participants were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II and had no systemic, mental, or syndromic conditions. OHRQoL was assessed using the Turkish version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), completed by parents prior to treatment and at a one -month postoperative follow -up. In addition, demographic characteristics and decayed, missing, and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) indices were recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using appropriate tests, and a p -value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age was 60.11 +/- 8.20 months and mean baseline dmft was 12.62 +/- 3.43. Significant improvements were observed in total ECOHIS scores and most subscales after treatment, except for the social well -being domain (p<0.05). No significant associations were found between OHRQoL changes and sociodemographic factors, dmft scores, or treatment variables. Conclusion: Dental treatment under GA significantly improved OHRQoL in children with early childhood caries. However, these improvements were not influenced by demographic characteristics, caries experience, or treatment complexity. General anesthesia remains an effective approach for comprehensive management of uncooperative pediatric dental patients.
