Oral Health of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Hong Kong

Abstract

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as hyperkinetic disorder, is diagnosed among school-aged children with persistent patterns of impulsivity, inattention and hyperactivity. It is a common neurobehavioural disorder that affects approximately 7% of children world-wide, with many individuals continuing to show symptoms in adulthood. Currently, evidence regarding the oral health status among children with ADHD is controversial and risks of increased levels of dental disease or adverse oral health behaviour remain unclear.

A systematic review of available published literature on the oral health status among patients with ADHD identified 12 079 abstracts, although only 23 effective studies were included for final qualitative and quantitative analysis. Despite conflicting evidence, results of meta-analysis show that children with ADHD appear to be at higher risk for caries, traumatic dental injuries and have poorer oral hygiene compared to children without ADHD. It also identified a need for more research to be conducted among individuals with ADHD in the permanent dentition stage.

The comparative study aimed to evaluate and determine differences in oral health status and oral health behaviours of children with and without ADHD in Hong Kong. A sample of 62 children aged 12-18 years old were included in the study (31 ADHD and 31 age and gender-matched controls). Results found higher levels of gingival inflammation and more frequently reported indicators of poor oral health habits among children with ADHD.