Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39309846›Full record

ArticleHeliyon2024

Oral health status and dental treatment needs in children with autism spectrum disorder.

Sherin Sara George, Manju George Elenjickal, Sachin Naik, Nebu George Thomas, Sajith Vellappally, Nibu Varghese, Aby Mathew, Vivek Narayan, Rinsy P Varughese, Sukumaran Anil

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Heliyon, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Oral health disparities among children with special healthcare needs: a comparative cross-sectional study.European archives of paediatric dentistry : official journal of the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Sherin Sara GeorgePratheeksha Child Development Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, India.
Manju George ElenjickalPratheeksha Child Development Centre, Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Thiruvalla, India.
Sachin NaikDepartment of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nebu George ThomasDepartment of Periodontology, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla, India.
Sajith VellappallyDepartment of Dental Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Nibu VargheseMar Athanasios College of Advanced Studies, Thiruvalla, India.
Aby MathewDepartment of Prosthodontics Crown and Bridge, Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, India.
Vivek NarayanPublic Health Dentistry, Government Dental College, Kottayam, Kerala, India.
Rinsy P VarugheseDr. Somson's Dental Clinic- Centre for Advanced Dental Care, Pazhavangadi PO, Ranny, 689673, India.
Sukumaran AnilDepartment of Dentistry, Oral Health Institute, Hamad Medical Cooperation, Doha, 3050, Qatar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate oral health care practices, health status, and dental treatment needs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Methods: This cross-sectional study included 96 children diagnosed with ASD per the DSM-V criteria and 96 typically developing healthy children. The WHO form assessed oral health status and dental treatment needs. Results: Over 50 % of ASD children had mild/moderate autism, 35.4 % had severe autism, and 13.5 % had autistic traits. ASD children experienced more toothbrushing difficulties compared to non-ASD children. Based on Nyvad's criteria and decayed/filled teeth (dft) index, non-ASD children had higher caries prevalence than ASD children, indicating less need for restorative treatments in the ASD group. However, ASD children had poorer plaque scores than non-ASD children. A significantly higher percentage of ASD children exhibited harmful oral behaviors, including mouth breathing, lip biting, bruxism, nail biting, object biting, and self-injury (p < 0.001). ASD children also showed increased traumatic dental injuries compared to non-ASD children. Conclusion: Compared to non-ASD peers, children with ASD have lower dental caries prevalence and less need for restorations, yet poorer plaque control. They also demonstrate more frequent oral self-injuries. ASD status appears related to toothbrushing difficulties. These findings highlight the need for tailored oral health interventions for children with ASD.

Indexed as

Autism spectrum disorderDental cariesDevelopmental disorderOral behaviorsOral health status

Identifiers

PMID39309846
PMCPMC11416474

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.