Oral health related quality of life among children with hemophilia and von willebrand disease, in Çukurova Region

In this study, we aimed to investigate oral health related quality of life in haemophiliac patients between the ages of 8 and 14 and compared with general population. In order to evaluate oral health related quality of life; linguistic and psycometric adaptation of a pediatric oral health related quality of life instrument were done which was origanally in English. Data were collected from 149 children (8-14) in order to validate the Turkish version of POQL and at the second part of the study the instruments were completed by the hemophiliac children (n=44) between the age of 8-14. Children and parents from both of the groups completed a survey form including different questions about socio-demographic features, self-rating general and oral health status, dental habits, pattern of dental attendance; and oral health related quality of life survey; POQL. In addition to self completed surveys dental examination was done by dental team. In the field of education level, economical situation, general health, dental attendance and tooth brushing frequencies the control group is in better conditions compared with the haemophilia group. Significant difference was shown between the groups by total DMFT, primary dmft, total decayed teeth, total filled teeth and primary decayed teeth number. However revealing worse dental situations hemophilia group showed similar oral health related quality of life scores according to POQL findings.