Orthodontic problems may be more severe in children with ASD

Orthodontic problems tend to be more severe in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) than in their neurotypical peers, according to a study by researchers in Iran.

Fahimeh Farzanegan and colleagues assessed the orthodontic status of 162 children with ASD and 162 neurotypical controls, using a tool called the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). The researchers report, “ASD children obtained significantly higher overall ICON scores, indicating more complex and severe malocclusions [bite misalignments].”

The researchers note, “[T]he majority of autistic children do not receive preventive orthodontic therapy; this may be rationalized by the fact that oral health care needs are often overshadowed by much more urgent concerns and are not considered a priority. Dentists may also be reluctant in providing dental care for these patients with special needs, since this task is usually considered challenging. Hence, malocclusion may persist till adulthood, when treatment outcomes are less satisfactory. In this context, evaluating the prevalence of malocclusion in these patients is prudent and can foster opportune and appropriate orthodontic management as well as uncovering the underlying causes.”

Citations

“Evaluating malocclusion patterns in children with autism spectrum disorder using the index of complexity, outcome and need: a cross-sectional study,” Fahimeh Farzanegan, Sahar Ahmadi Shadmehri, Zahra Shooshtari, Amir Reza Hamidi, and Arsalan Shahri, BMC Oral Health, July 4, 2024 (free online). Address: Arsalan Shahri, Dental Materials Research Center, Mashhad Dental School, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran, [email protected].