Autistic spectrum disorder children and adolescents' oral health characteristics - scoping review

• Published in: International journal of developmental disabilities Vol. ahead-of-print; no. ahead-of-print; pp. 1 - 14
• Main Authors: Barbosa, Mainara Alves, Lotito, Michelle Coelho Ferreira, Masterson, Daniele, Pastura, Giuseppe, de Souza, Ivete Pomarico, Tavares-Silva, Claudia Maria, Castro, Gloria Fernanda Barbosa de Araújo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 2024; Maney Publishing, Hudson Road
• Subjects: Accumulation; an adolescent; autism; autism spectrum disorder; Autistic adolescents; Autistic children; Bruxism; child; Health problems; Hygiene; Oral health; Oral hygiene; oral hygiene index; Review; Reviews; Teeth; oral hygiene; an adolescent; oral health; autism spectrum disorder; autism; child; oral hygiene index
• ISSN: 2047-3869; 2047-3877
• DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.2092936

This study aimed to conduct a scoping review to know children and adolescents' main oral health concerns with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and thus identify any oral characteristic that stands out, aiming at preventive and interceptive clinical conduct. A search was performed in the three electronic databases and the gray literature; in September 2021. A total of 562 studies were identified, and after applying the eligibility criteria, 73 articles were included in the synthesis of this scoping review. The mean decayed, lost, and restored teeth index (DMFT/dfmt) ranged from 0 to 12.37; the mean DMFT index (permanent dentition) from 0.06 to 6.2; and the average dmft index (deciduous dentition) ranged from 0.29 to 9.91. The mean simplified oral hygiene index (OHIS) ranged from 0 to 3.4; gingival index (GI) from 0.29 to 2; and plaque index (PI) from 0.005 to 3.15. Plaque prevalence was 25.9% to 90%; dental calculus from 4.7% to 59.41%; gingivitis from 36.7% to 100%. Bruxism was 10.3% to 73%, and dental trauma was 4.7% to 100%. This disparity in the results shows the heterogeneity of this population, with different degrees of socio-behavioral impairment, which can directly influence oral hygiene and the consequent accumulation of biofilm.