ORAL FINDINGS IN CHILDREN WITH ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER AMONG A GROUP OF EGYPTIAN CHILDREN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Pediatric Dentistry and Dental public Health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University

2 Lecturer of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University

3 Lecturer of Pediatric Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Cairo University

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the oral findings of children with ADHD when compared to normal healthy children.

Materials and Methods: A sample of 78 children (age 4–12 years); 39 participants with ADHD and 39 participants without ADHD (control). Oral examination included the following parameters: caries, traumatic dental injuries (TDIs), malocclusions, dental wear, and enamel hypocalcification (EH). Additionally, oral hygiene and parafunctional oral habits were assessed by a questionnaire to parents/caregivers. Data were compared using Mann–Whitney U-tests and Chi-square tests.

Results: Children with ADHD have significantly lower values of deft/DMFT and frequencies of tooth brushing but higher values of parafunctional oral habits (bruxism, nail and object biting, tongue thrusting) and dental wear. No significant differences were found between children, with and without ADHD, in dmft, DMFT, TDIs, prevalence of malocclusion or EH.

Conclusion: Children with ADHD exhibited a poorer oral health behavior, higher risk for TDIs and malocclusion than non-ADHD children. Hence, there is a need for meticulous preventive dental care for them. Parents/caregivers need instructions for better supervision of oral hygiene to improve the poor oral health of children with or without ADHD

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