Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study

Objective: This study aimed to determine the oral health status and the associated health disparities of pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This non-matched, case-control study recruited 22 subjects diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 27 without ASD (controls) aged 5–18....

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Main Authors: Mariela Sosa Seda, Naydi Perez Rios, Sona Rivas Tumanayan, Damaris Molina Negron, Lydia M Lopez del Valle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asociación Latinoamericana de Odontopediatría 2025-05-01
Series:Revista de Odontopediatria Latinoamericana
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Online Access:https://www.revistaodontopediatria.org/index.php/alop/article/view/686
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author Mariela Sosa Seda
Naydi Perez Rios
Sona Rivas Tumanayan
Damaris Molina Negron
Lydia M Lopez del Valle
author_facet Mariela Sosa Seda
Naydi Perez Rios
Sona Rivas Tumanayan
Damaris Molina Negron
Lydia M Lopez del Valle
author_sort Mariela Sosa Seda
collection DOAJ
description Objective: This study aimed to determine the oral health status and the associated health disparities of pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This non-matched, case-control study recruited 22 subjects diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 27 without ASD (controls) aged 5–18. Two calibrated dentists performed dental exams for caries and gingivitis on all subjects. Parents/caregivers completed sociodemographics and social determinants oral health questionnaires. As appropriate, between-group comparisons were performed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney test. Associations between ASD and oral health indices were determined using logistic, Poisson, and linear regression models.   Results: Statistically significant differences were found for not easily finding dental services for ASD patients (p=0.014) and behavioral problems during dental visits (p=0.012). Children with ASD had significantly lower odds of caries (DMFT+dft>0) compared to children without ASD (OR=0.121; 95% CI: 0.023; 0.636). Age- and sex-adjusted models showed a significantly lower gingival index among those with ASD.   Conclusion: ASD patients had better oral health than the control subjects. The barriers to treatment for ASD patients were lack of access to dental care and living in a rural area.
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spelling doaj-art-2ba8bfa0c7b94361891cb4d9d6c44fc42025-08-20T03:10:17ZengAsociación Latinoamericana de OdontopediatríaRevista de Odontopediatria Latinoamericana2174-07982025-05-011510.47990/njr9j726Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control studyMariela Sosa Seda0https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6797-0427Naydi Perez Rios1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2878-5308Sona Rivas Tumanayan2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3773-7028Damaris Molina Negron3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1431-6332Lydia M Lopez del Valle4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7285-9047Escuela de Medicina Dental Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto RicoBiostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Core, the Hispanic Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research (Alliance), San Juan, Puerto RicoEscuela de Medicina Dental Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico y Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design Core, the Hispanic Alliance for Clinical and Translational Research (Alliance), San Juan, Puerto RicoEscuela de Medicina Dental Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto RicoEscuela de Medicina Dental Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico Objective: This study aimed to determine the oral health status and the associated health disparities of pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Methods: This non-matched, case-control study recruited 22 subjects diagnosed with ASD (cases) and 27 without ASD (controls) aged 5–18. Two calibrated dentists performed dental exams for caries and gingivitis on all subjects. Parents/caregivers completed sociodemographics and social determinants oral health questionnaires. As appropriate, between-group comparisons were performed using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney test. Associations between ASD and oral health indices were determined using logistic, Poisson, and linear regression models.   Results: Statistically significant differences were found for not easily finding dental services for ASD patients (p=0.014) and behavioral problems during dental visits (p=0.012). Children with ASD had significantly lower odds of caries (DMFT+dft>0) compared to children without ASD (OR=0.121; 95% CI: 0.023; 0.636). Age- and sex-adjusted models showed a significantly lower gingival index among those with ASD.   Conclusion: ASD patients had better oral health than the control subjects. The barriers to treatment for ASD patients were lack of access to dental care and living in a rural area. https://www.revistaodontopediatria.org/index.php/alop/article/view/686Autism Spectrum Disordersocial determinants of healthoral health status
spellingShingle Mariela Sosa Seda
Naydi Perez Rios
Sona Rivas Tumanayan
Damaris Molina Negron
Lydia M Lopez del Valle
Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
Revista de Odontopediatria Latinoamericana
Autism Spectrum Disorder
social determinants of health
oral health status
title Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
title_full Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
title_fullStr Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
title_full_unstemmed Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
title_short Oral Health Status of Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A case-control study
title_sort oral health status of pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder a case control study
topic Autism Spectrum Disorder
social determinants of health
oral health status
url https://www.revistaodontopediatria.org/index.php/alop/article/view/686
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AT naydiperezrios oralhealthstatusofpediatricpatientswithautismspectrumdisorderacasecontrolstudy
AT sonarivastumanayan oralhealthstatusofpediatricpatientswithautismspectrumdisorderacasecontrolstudy
AT damarismolinanegron oralhealthstatusofpediatricpatientswithautismspectrumdisorderacasecontrolstudy
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