Do autistic children have higher levels of caries? A cross-sectional study in Turkish children

The aim of this study is to assess whether the dental caries experience is higher in children with an autistic disorder (AD) than in normal children. Three schools for autistic children and three standard elementary schools in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in a cross-sectional study. Subjects were orally examined. Socio-demographic information and data about their oral care habits were obtained from their parents from records. Sixty-two children with AD and 301 children without AD were examined. Their ages varied between 6 and 12 years. Children with AD compared to those without AD had lower experience of caries. Logistic regression analysis of DMFT showed that the dental status was positively affected in younger children (OR = 15.57; 95% CI 7.62, 31.80), children from families with high income (OR = 5.42; 95% CI 2.31, 12.75), children brushing teeth regularly (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.10, 3.68), children consuming less sugar (OR = 5.01; 95% CI 2.57, 9.76) and in those with AD (OR=3.99; 95% CI 1.56, 10.19). Children with AD had better caries status than children without AD at younger ages.