ORAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AMONG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND TYPICALLY DEVELOPING PEERS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY AT UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

Received 2024-02-19; Accepted 2024-03-26; Published 2024-03-27

Abstract

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may not manifest distinct oral characteristics related to ASD, yet the disorder itself could impact their oral health. This case-control study aimed to assess and compare oral hygiene, dental caries, and periodontal status between children with and without ASD. Twenty-eight children with ASD and thirty without ASD (aged 3 to 16 years) attending the paediatric dentistry clinic at UiTM, Sungai Buloh campus, underwent clinical oral examinations. Parameters included Modified Gingival Index (MGI), simplified Basic Periodontal Examination (sBPE), Oral Hygiene-Simplified Index (OHI-S), DMFT, and dmft scores. Chi-square and independent t test were used to compare the two groups. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Children with ASD showed a higher prevalence of poor oral hygiene (3.6%) compared to those without ASD (0.0%). MGI indicated a higher percentage of moderate inflammation in children with ASD (3.6%). sBPE revealed higher rates of bleeding on probing (67.9%) and calculus deposits (28.6%) in children with ASD compared to those without ASD (60.0% and 20.0%, respectively). Children with ASD showed a higher mean (SD) DMFT of 1.57 (3.9) compared to those without ASD, 0.83 (1.67), and children without ASD had a higher mean (SD) dmft of 5.87 (5.78) in contrast to children with ASD, 4.5 (5.45). These differences did not reach statistical significance. Despite the numerical variations, it was not statistically confirmed that children with ASD are at a significantly higher risk of dental caries and periodontal diseases. Early detection of risk factors for these conditions in children with ASD is crucial for preventive interventions.