Evaluation of Oral Health in Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

This study aimed to compare the oral health profiles of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and healthy controls, focusing on caries experience, periodontal status, and occlusal characteristics. In this cross-sectional study, children aged 10-18 years diagnosed with ADHD (n = 50) and age-matched healthy controls (n = 50) underwent standardized dental examinations. ADHD diagnoses were established by a child and adolescent psychiatry specialist based on DSM-5 criteria and supported by neuropsychological assessments. All dental evaluations were performed by a single blinded examiner under standardized clinical conditions. Assessments included DMFT scoring, clinical gingival evaluation, malocclusion analysis, dental crowding status, and panoramic radiographic evaluation. Children with ADHD had a significantly higher DMFT index than controls (2.82 ± 1.38 vs. 1.10 ± 1.02; p < 0.001). The odds of having a fractured tooth were higher in the ADHD group than in the control group (36% vs. 10%; unadjusted OR = 5.06, 95% CI: 1.70-15.05; p = 0.004). Any gingival abnormality was more frequent in the ADHD group than in the control group (60% vs. 12%; unadjusted OR = 11.00, 95% CI: 3.95-30.61; p < 0.001). Malocclusion (64% vs. 24%; p < 0.001) and dental crowding (70% vs. 44%; p = 0.015) were also more frequent among children with ADHD. Within this selected sample meeting predefined oral-hygiene, dietary, and dental-attendance criteria, ADHD was associated with poorer oral health indicators. These findings provide clinically relevant insights and may support tailored preventive monitoring and clinically indicated dental-mental health collaboration. Further studies involving larger and more diverse cohorts are warranted to validate these associations across the broader ADHD population.