Oral health status, dental needs, habits and behavioral attitude towards dental treatment of a group of autistic children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to obtain baseline information regarding the oral health status, dental needs, habits and behavioral attitudes towards dental treatment of a group of autistic children attending a rehabilitation center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire in Arabic was completed by the parents of each child involved and was reviewed with the children’s trainers. Extra-oral and intra-oral examinations were performed in 20 autistic children with a mean age of 9.6 years. The parents of all the 20 children (16 males and 4 females) responded to the questionnaires. Extra-oral examination showed that 14 (70%) children showed different signs of trauma due to habits and also expression of temporary madness. Intra-oral assessment showed poor oral hygiene (80%) and generalized gingiva. The mean DMFT score was 1.6 and 7.25, and mean dmft score for males and females was 3.62 and 1.0, respectively. Regarding the behavioral attitude to dental treatment, 56.25% of the children were definitely negative, 31.25% were negatively behaved and only 12.5 % reacted positively towards the dental examination. The following conclusions were made: Oral health status of the examined autistic children did not show statistically significant differences from the international groups reported in previous studies. Autistic children in the present study showed similar behavior and habits as other autistic children around the world.