Caries experience associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Grooms MT, Keels MA, Roberts MW, McIver FT.

Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA.

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a total caries experience that was equivalent to children without the disorder. METHODS: The test sample included children ages 6 to 10 years old diagnosed with ADHD by physicians at Duke University Medical Center. The control group also included healthy children 6 to 10 years old without the diagnosis of ADHD. A visual dental exam for caries was performed and a sample of whole, unstimulated saliva was collected. The parent/guardian of each participant completed a health/medication history and a questionnaire concerning the child's oral health and habits, daily routine, and demographic information. RESULTS: Wilcoxon and chi-square tests showed that children with ADHD have significantly more enamel caries in the primary and permanent dentitions and a significantly higher prevalence of total caries experience when compared to controls. There was no significant difference in whole saliva production between the ADHD children and the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists should be aware that children with ADHD are at higher risk for caries.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=16302591&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_DocSum