Do autistic children have higher levels of caries? A cross-sectional study in Turkish children.

The aim of this study is to assess whether the dental caries experience is higher in children with an autistic disorder (AD) than in normal children. Three schools for autistic children and three standard elementary schools in Istanbul, Turkey, were included in a cross-sectional study. Subjects were orally examined. Socio-demographic information and data about their oral care habits were obtained from their parents from records. Sixty-two children with AD and 301 children without AD were examined. Their ages varied between 6 and 12 years. Children with AD compared to those without AD had lower experience of caries. Logistic regression analysis of DMFT showed that the dental status was positively affected in younger children (OR = 15.57; 95% CI 7.62, 31.80), children from families with high income (OR = 5.42; 95% CI 2.31, 12.75), children brushing teeth regularly (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 1.10, 3.68), children consuming less sugar (OR = 5.01; 95% CI 2.57, 9.76) and in those with AD (OR=3.99; 95% CI 1.56, 10.19). Children with AD had better caries status than children without AD at younger ages.

Risk factors for dental caries in Turkish preschool children.

The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors of dental caries in preschool children in Istanbul. Five nursery schools in Istanbul were included and results of 598 students' were collected. Subjects were orally examined. Socio-demographic data were obtained from the records and from parents. Oral examination data were recorded on examination forms in accordance with the WHO criteria. Bivariate analyses were conducted using chi-square test Multivariate analyses were then performed to estimate the simultaneous impact of the independent variables on dft. Logistic regression analysis was performed in stages. In the study, while although the percentage of children had 60% caries and 0 results at the age of 3, this percentage drops to 15.3% at the age 6. 36%Thirty-six percent of the students have insufficient oral hygiene. Statistically meaningful difference was ascertained in chi-square analysis related to age, mother's education level, and father's occupation. When the variables with statistically meaningful difference are estimated with logistic regression analysis, the age and father's father's occupation turned out to be the risk indicators that affect dft level.