Oral Health Assessment of a Group of Children with Autism Disorder.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to determine the oral status of a group of children with autism.

STUDY DESIGN: An observational transversal study was carried out in 96 pediatric patients between the ages of 2 and 16 years old with a diagnosis of autism. The patients were assessed to determine the presence of caries with Index Caries (WHO criteria) and debris and calculus with the Simplified Oral Hygiene Index, as well as the type of diet they followed.

RESULTS: It was established that 41.7% of the patients had caries, with the result of an index of DMFT= 0.96 and dmft =2.41. In terms of the periodontal health 59.4% suffered from calculus. The OHI-S was 3.4.

CONCLUSIONS: Children with autism exhibited a higher caries prevalence in primary teeth than in permanents. They also presented poor hygiene and an extensive presence of calculus.