Mail-in pilot-tested questionnaires were sent to a stratified random sample of 1,500 families from the North Carolina Autism Registry. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significance of unmet dental needs and other predictors. Of 568 surveys returned (Response Rate = 38%), 555 were complete and usable. Sixty-five (12%) children had unmet dental needs. Of 516 children (93%) who had been to a dentist, 11% still reported unmet needs. The main barriers were child's behavior, cost, and lack of insurance. The significant predictor variables of unmet needs were child's behavior (p = 0.01), child's dental health (p < 0.001), and caregiver's last dental visit greater than 6 months (p = 0.002). Type of ASD did not have an effect on having unmet dental needs.

BackgroundParents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have concerns with fluoride/silver content in silver diammine fluoride (SDF).AimTo compare parental acceptance of SDF and dental fear between children with and without ASD.DesignThree hundred parents were enrolled. Demographics, dental history, and dental fear were recorded. Subjects viewed an educational video and completed survey about SDF acceptance including the following: (a) overall acceptance, (b) aesthetic concerns by tooth location, (c) fluoride/silver concerns, and (d) its use as a general anaesthesia (GA) alternative. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were used.ResultsSignificantly, more children with ASD had dental fear (ASD: 56% vs neurotypical: 26%). No differences in acceptance existed between the two groups overall or with respect to aesthetics, fluoride/silver content, or as an alternative to GA. Overall acceptance is >60%. Regardless of group, parents of older children were less likely to accept SDF as an alternative to GA (OR = 0.67 [95% CI: 0.50‐0.90]).ConclusionParents of children with ASD had similar acceptance of SDF use compared to parents of neurotypical children. Children with ASD had higher levels of dental fear. Parents of younger children are more likely to accept SDF as an alternative to GA in both groups.

The preventive oral health programme in Singapore was successful in reducing SECC among infants and toddlers when targeted behaviour modifications were implemented.

Early childhood caries (ECC) has been reported to reduce a child's quality of life. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Several questionnaire-based studies have found that more parents of children with ECC report that their child had dental pain and a decreased ability to chew compared to parents of children without ECC. 1,5 To reduce oral pain and improve masticatory function, it is ideal to treat and restore salvageable carious teeth as well as to extract non-restorable and/or abscessed primary teeth. Parents are, however, frequently concerned that their child's ability to chew may be compromised after comprehensive dental treatment, especially when the treatment involves multiple extractions. 7 Current studies reporting the improvements in the oral symptoms and masticatory function in children after dental treatment are largely based on parental reports. 1-3 White