Caries Experience Associated with Attention – Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether children with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a total caries experience that was equivalent to children without the disorder. Methods: The test sample included children ages 6 to 10 years old diagnosed with ADHD by physicians at Duke University Medical Center. The control group also included healthy children 6 to 10 years old without the diagnosis of ADHD.A visual dental exam for caries was performed and a sample of whole, unstimulated saliva was collected. The parent / guardian of each participant completed a health/medication history and a questionnaire concerning the child's oral health and habits, daily routine, and demographic information. Results: Wilcoxon and chi-square tests showed that children with ADHD have significantly more enamel caries in the primary and permanent dentitions and a significantly higher prevalence of total caries experience when compared to controls. There was no significant difference in whole saliva production between the ADHD children and the controls. Conclusions: Dentists should be aware that children with ADHD are at higher risk for caries.

Child Externalizing Behavior Problems Linked to Genetic and Non-Genetic Variation in Dental Caries

“…Our findings are the most similar to those of Hidas et al [2011], who reported that nonmedicated children with ADHD had marginally significantly (p = 0.08) fewer carious lesions compared with control children with the effect size for the difference (r = -0.24; p = 0.08) very consistent with those that we report. In contrast, Grooms et al [2005] did not find a significant difference in primary tooth caries in nonmedicated children with ADHD compared with control children (r = -0.06). Medication data were not collected in the present sample; however, participants were drawn from an extremely impoverished population with very poor access to health care.…”

“…Accordingly, we are certain that the vast majority of study children, if not all, were not medicated. Taking our findings together with those of Hidas et al [2011] and Grooms et al [2005], it seems possible that medication changes the association of externalizing problems and caries, with positive associations a byproduct of psychiatric medication. Children on medication may experience changes in appetite leading to increased sucrose intake (perhaps due to increased parental leniency in the face of the side effect of appetite suppression), thus explaining increased caries rates in children with externalizing behavioral problems.…”

Oral and Dental Health Problems of Children with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorders, and Solution Proposals

“…Bazı araştırıcılar, çürük, kayıp, dolgulu dişler (DMFT)/dmft skorlarının DEHB'li çocuklarda daha fazla olduğunu bildirirken (11,12,43,47), kimi araştırıcılar kavitasyonlu çürük lezyonları ve diş çürüğü sonuçları açısından, DEHB'li çocukların sağlıklı çocuklarla benzer durumda olduklarını tespit etmişlerdir (28,42,44,48).…”

“…ABD'de 6-10 yaş aralığındaki DEHB'li çocukların daha fazla mine çürüğüne sahip olduğu bildirilmiştir (12). Yeni Zellanda'da yapılan bir araştırma sonucunda, DEHB olan çocukların DMFT skorlarının 5'ten büyük olma riskinin daha yüksek olduğu ve 11-13 yaş grubunda DEHB'nin yüksek diş çürüğü aktivitesi için bir risk faktörü olduğu bildirilmiştir (43).…”

“…DEHB'li çocukların, etkin şekilde diş fırçalamak gibi günlük aktivitelerde başarısız olabildiği ve ideal oral hijyeni sağlayamadıkları (10,11), ayrıca diyet alışkanlıkları, tükürük özellikleri ve iştahlarının, kullandıkları ilaçlardan etkilenebildiği ve bu nedenle diş çürüğü açısından yüksek risk grubunda yer aldıkları düşünülmektedir (12).…”