The association between oral health clusters and oral health‐related quality of life: A population‑based study of 5‑yr‑old children

This study aimed to describe oral health clusters that combine dental conditions and perceived oral health and to examine the association of oral health indicators and their clusters with oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in 5-yr-old children. This cross-sectional study analysed data from 4354 5-yr-old children participating in the Brazilian National Oral Health Survey (SB Brasil 2023). Oral health assessment included decayed, missing and filled teeth; clinical consequences of untreated dental caries (pufa index); malocclusion; perceived oral health; and OHRQoL (SOHO-5). Latent profile analysis was performed to identify oral health clusters, and regression models examined associations between clusters, oral health indicators and OHRQoL. Four distinct clusters emerged: healthy teeth and very good/good perceived oral health (56.3%), restored teeth and good/fair perceived oral health (8.9%), high caries and good/fair perceived oral health (24.9%) and high caries/high pufa and fair/poor perceived oral health (9.9%). Oral health indicators (except malocclusion) and oral health clusters were associated with worse OHRQoL, but cluster-based associations were stronger. Children in clusters with high caries, pufa and poor perceived oral health showed markedly poorer OHRQoL across all domains. This approach may explain OHRQoL better than oral health indicators, providing a more nuanced understanding of oral health disparities.