IADR Abstract Archives

Oral Health Status of Children with Autistic Disorder

Autism is a brain disorder that often interferes with a person's ability to communicate with and relate to others. Signs of autism almost always develop before a child is 3 years old, although the condition is sometimes not diagnosed until later. Autistic disorder is a neuropsychiatric disorder which begins in the first years of life with delays and deviance in social, communicative and cognitive development and with restricted repertoire of activities and interests. The symptoms of autism can be mild or severe.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the oral health status of children with different levels of autism symptoms and to compare oral health values with healthy children.

Methods: Twenty four children with autism were included in this study. Twelve children were having severe symptoms and 12 of the study group were having mild symptoms. Twenty four children with no systemic disease were included in the control group and these children were chosen randomly from a primary school. The DMFT, DMFS, dft, dfs, plaque index, calculus index, gingival index and oral hygiene index records were determined. These values were evaluated as statistically.

Results: The oral health records of the children with mild and severe autism was found to be significantly higher then the healthy children. There was significant difference between oral health records of the children having mild and severe autism symptoms.

Conclusion: Oral health status of handicapped children is usually poor. The dentists and pedodontists may give some oral health care information to the parents of these children.


Continental European and Israeli Divisions Meeting
2007 Continental European and Israeli Divisions Meeting (Thessaloniki, Greece)
Thessaloniki, Greece
2007
43
Scientific Groups
  • Ozdemir-ozenen, Didem  ( Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, N/A, Turkey )
  • Sandalli, Nuket  ( Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul, N/A, Turkey )
    • Oral Session
    Craniofacial Biology/TMJ
    09/27/2007