Oral health among preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: A case-control study (original) (raw)
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Oral Health Assessment of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Special Schools
International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
Background: Sensory over-responsivity is an important factor influencing the ability of children with an autism spectrum disorder to receive proper oral care. Dental care remains the most prevalent, unmet health care need for children with special health care needs. Aim and objective: To assess the oral health of children with autism in special schools. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to record the oral health problems of 142 autistic children attending special schools across the suburbs of Mumbai city in India. Clinical examination was carried out for the presence of dental plaque, gingivitis, caries, restorations, traumatic injuries, and self-injurious habits. The participants were divided into three groups based on their age. Results: Children with primary and mixed dentition had a higher incidence of dental caries when compared with the permanent dentition group. Good oral hygiene was observed in the study population with a mean OHI-S score of 0.88 ± 0.79. Traumatic dental injuries, bruxism, drooling of saliva from the corner of the mouth, and self-injurious habits were also recorded. Conclusion: Due to the nature of their neurological deficit and difficulty in providing dental treatment, it is recommended that preventive dental care be enforced on these children.
BMC Pediatrics, 2022
Background Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a set of developmental, psychological, and neurological disorders that occur in early childhood. The most important characteristic of individuals with autism is difficulty in social interactions and communication. Researchers in the field of oral health have not paid enough attention to these individuals due to their specific behavioral characteristics. Therefore, due to the limitations of the studies in this field in Iran, increasing prevalence of autism, and importance of oral health in people with ASD, this study was conducted to evaluate the oral health status of primary school students with autism (7–15 years old) in autism schools in Tehran. Methods Students from seven governmental special primary schools in Tehran were selected for this study. Data about oral health behavior and the presence of each of the seven barriers of tooth brushing task was collected via questionnaires completed by parents. During the dental examination, t...
Journal of Islamabad Medical & Dental College
Background: Dental problems are common in autistic children due to poor oral hygiene. During the dental treatment, main challenge is reduced ability of autistic kids to communicate. The objective of this study was to investigate about the oral health status of autistic children and to compare the risk of dental caries and periodontal disease between children with autism and healthy controls. Methodology: This case-control study was conducted at the Milestone Charitable Trust and Defense Housing Authority (DHA), Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed School, for the duration of 04 months (1st Dec 2019 – 30th March 2020). Among cases, 67 autistic children and among controls,67 healthy children, of age 7 to 17 years, of either gender, were included. All the participants were examined and assessed for presence or absence of any carious lesions, and periodontal health. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Results: The overall mean age of included children was 12.51±2.99 years. Of 134 children...
Dental caries experience, oral health status and treatment needs of dental patients with autism
Journal of Applied Oral Science, 2011
O bjectives: Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder. The aims of this study were to investigate whether children with autism have higher caries prevalence, higher periodontal problems, or more treatment needs than children of a control group of nonautistic patients, and to provide baseline data to enable comparison and future planning of dental services to autistic children. Material and Methods: 61 patients with autism aged 6-16 years (45 males and 16 females) attending Dubai and Sharjah Autism Centers were selected for the study. The control group consisted of 61 non-autistic patients chosen from relatives or friends of autistic patients in an attempt to have matched age, sex and socioeconomic status. each patient received a complete oral and periodontal examination, assessment of caries prevalence, and caries severity. Other conditions assessed were dental plaque, gingivitis, restorations and treatment needs. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test of significance were used to compare groups. Results: The autism group had a male-tofemale ratio of 2.8:1. Compared to controls, children with autism had significantly higher decayed, missing or filled teeth than unaffected patients and significantly needed more restorative dental treatment. The restorative index (RI) and Met Need Index (MNI) for the autistic children were 0.02 and 0.3, respectively. The majority of the autistic children either having poor 59.0% (36/61) or fair 37.8% (23/61) oral hygiene compared with healthy control subjects. Likewise, 97.0% (59/61) of the autistic children had gingivitis. Conclusions: Children with autism exhibited a higher caries prevalence, poor oral hygiene and extensive unmet needs for dental treatment than non-autistic healthy control group. Thus oral health program that emphasizes prevention should be considered of particular importance for children and young people with autism.
Dental caries experience and periodontal health status in a sample of autism children
Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences, 2018
Background and Objective: Autism is a persistent neurodevelopmental condition. This study aimed to investigate carious and periodontal problems among a sample of children with autism in Erbil, Iraq. Methods: A total of 44 autistic children aged 1-14 years (30 males and 14 females) attending Erbil, Iraq Autism Centers were enrolled in the study. The control group consisted of 44 non-autistic children chosen from different schools which represent different geographical locations in Erbil city in the period between September, 1 st 2014 to January, 1 st 2015 to have matched age, sex and socioeconomic status. Each patient received an assessment of caries prevalence. Other conditions assessed were oral hygiene and gingival health status. The t-test of significance was used to compare groups. Results: Data analyzed for the present study comprised observations from a group of children (cases = 44) diagnosed with autism matched with healthy children (controls = 44). The autistic children had lower decayed, missing or filled teeth than unaffected children with nonsignificant differences. The mean decayed-missing-filled teeth in primary teeth (dmft) of the autistic group was 11.57 ± 11.41 while that of the controls was 15.36 ± 12.81. The mean Decayed-Missing-Filled teeth in permanent teeth (DMFT) of the autistic group was 2.36 ± 3.86 and 2.89 ± 3.78 in the controls. With advancing age, the value of decayed, missing and filled teeth increased. Almost all of the autistic children had fair oral hygiene (1.291 ± 0.89) and had gingivitis. Conclusion: Autistic children displayed lower dmft, DMFT scores compared to control group, fair oral hygiene level, and had gingivitis than did the unaffected control children. Hence, non-autistic children need further consideration.
Dental Caries Experience among the Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in 3-15 Years
Journal of Nepalese Association of Pediatric Dentistry
Introduction: Dental caries remains the most prevalent, unmet health care need for children with special health care needs such as autism spectrum disorder. This study was carried out to help in providing a baseline data to enable comparison and future planning of dental services for autistic children. Objective: The study aims to evaluate the oral health status among the 3-15 years old children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Kathmandu. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 80 autistic children of age 3-15 years. Dental caries was measure by Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth. Data was entered and analyzed in SPSS. Results: The prevalence of the dental caries was found to be 66.3% (53) with mean dmft of 3.03 ± 3.71 and DMFT of 0.51 ± 1.78 among children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Caries prevalence was higher in females compared to males. Among the carious teeth 94% were untreated. Conclusions: The prevalence of dental caries was high in children with Autism Spectrum D...
Autism spectrum disorders and oral health status: review of the literature
European journal of paediatric dentistry, 2020
AIM Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterised by impairments in communication and social relationships and by a narrow, repetitive and stereotyped repertoire of activities, behaviours and interests. The aim of this work is to evaluate how these characteristics have an impact on oral health. MATERIALS AND METHODS A search was conducted through MEDLINE/PubMed and Web of Science in order to evaluate the oral health status of children with ASD and the correlation between ASD and dental caries, periodontal disease, dental injuries, oral microbiota, as well as the different strategies, approach and treatments in ASD patients. Forty-six articles were selected. RESULTS Children with ASD are at higher risk of caries, alteration of the periodontal status, alterations of the oral microbiota and increased risk of traumatic injuries. CONCLUSION Since ASD is a haeterogeneous disease with a wide range of expressions in individuals, adapted and specific strategies are needed. ASD children rep...
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dentistry
Aim: To assess the prevalence of dental caries among autism spectrum disorders (ASD) children in Surabaya, Indonesia, and to explore the association between oral health-related behaviors comprising toothbrushing, snacking and dental visiting and the severity of caries. Methods: The prevalence and severity of caries were assessed using DMF-T/dmf-t and PUFA/pufa indexes for mixed dentitions. The parents or carers' responses were collected to identify the oral health-related behaviors that were associated with caries severity. Results: This study shows that almost 79% of ASD children in Surabaya were experiencing caries and 47.1% had untreated caries with pulp involvement or more severe conditions. Oral health behaviour factors associated with the severity of dental caries experienced by children with autism were brushing frequency Β [95% CI] =2.46 [0.09-4.83] and 2.03 [0.78-3.28]), brushing time (Β [95% CI] =3.76 [1.32-6.20] and 2.03 [0.74-3.32]) and cleansing after snack (B [95% CI] = 2.04 [0.20-3.89] and 1.21 [0.23-2.18]) in DMF-T/dmf-t and PUFA/ pufa indexes, respectively.
Prevalence of Gingivitis in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asd)
Wiadomości Lekarskie
The aim: To evaluate and compare the prevalence of gingivitis according to the PMA index in children aged 5 to 6 years in preschool with ASD and without disorders (Kyiv, Ukraine). Materials and methods: Oral assessment was conduct on 69 children with ASD and 23 children without ASD aged 5 to 6 years. To determine the periodontal status it was used the papillary-marginal-alveolar index – PMA (according to Schour, Massler, in the modification of Parma). Results: Children with ASD (18.84%) were 3.7 times less likely to have a clinically healthy periodontium than children without disorders (69.57%). The average PMA index among the main group was 6.8 times higher (15.31 ± 1.49%) than in the control group (2.25. ± 0.73%), but this difference was not statistically confirmed (p> 0.05). The most common pathology of periodontal tissues was chronic catarrhal gingivitis. 49.28% of children in main group with ASD had mild catarrhal gingivitis, while just 30.47% of children in control group wi...
Oral health status and behaviours of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a case-control study
International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, 2013
Background. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neuro-developmental disorder characterized by abnormalities in social interactions and communication and by stereotyped, repetitive activities. Purpose. Assess the oral health status and behaviours of children with ASD. Methods. The study included 100 children with ASD and 100 healthy children from Alexandria, Egypt. Data were collected using a questionnaire and clinical examination. Questionnaire assessed socio-demographics, medical history, dental history, oral hygiene, dietary habits, and presence of self-injurious behaviours. Clinical examination assessed behaviour during examination, gingival condition, plaque accumulation, caries, and other oral conditions. Results. Children with ASD had significantly poorer oral hygiene and gingival condition than healthy children (P < 0.001 for both). No significant differences were found in caries prevalence or experience in primary or permanent dentition. More children with ASD behaved 'negatively' or 'definitely negatively' (37% and 11%) than did healthy controls (11% and 2%) (P < 0.0001). Self-injurious behaviour and bruxism were more practised by children with ASD (32% of children with ASD and 2% of healthy children, P < 0.001). More children with ASD had difficulty in accessing dental care (P = 0.002). Conclusions. The oral condition of children with ASD might increase the risk of developing dental diseases. Their behaviour and life factors may complicate provision of services and limit access to dental care. Therefore, individualized oral health education programmes should be implemented for those children.