A Comparison of Oral Health Status, Traumatic Dental Injury and Tooth Wear between Autistic and Healthy Children

Abstract

Objective: To assess and compare the oral health condition, caries experience, traumatic dental injuries, and tooth wear of autism spectrum disorder children with those of the healthy control group

Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the College of Dentistry, University of Kufa, Iraq, from 1st October 2025 to 28th February 2026.

Methodology: The study was conducted on children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and a healthy control group who participated in the study. Oral health examination was done using global oral health indicators. Oral hygiene and periodontal status were assessed using the Plaque index (PI), Gingival index (GI), and Calculus index (CI). Dental caries were assessed using the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) indexes. Data concerning traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear were collected.

Results: Oral health condition was found to be poor among the autism spectrum disorder group when compared with the healthy control group. The former had a significantly higher plaque, gingival, and calculus index when compared with the latter (P < 0.05). In addition, there was a significant difference in caries experience (DMFT and DMFS) between the two groups, with a higher Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth and Decayed, Missing, and Filled Surfaces being recorded in the autism spectrum disorder group. However, there was no significant difference in caries experience of permanent teeth (DMFT and DMFS) between the two groups; the overall mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth was significantly higher in the autism spectrum disorder group. Traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear were significantly higher in the autism spectrum disorder group. Males had a higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries, whereas females with autism spectrum disorder had a higher prevalence of tooth wear.

Conclusion: The oral health condition of children with autism spectrum disorder was found to be poor when compared with that of the healthy control group. The former had poor oral hygiene, higher gingival inflammation indices, poor caries experience of the primary teeth, and a higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries and tooth wear.