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Children's Oral Health| Volume 14, ISSUE 6, P624-631, November 2014

Predictors of Unmet Dental Need in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results From a National Sample

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2014.06.023
Predictors of Unmet Dental Need in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Results From a National Sample
Previous ArticleOral Health Opinions and Practices of Pediatricians: Updated Results From a National Survey
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      Abstract

      Objective

      Unmet dental need in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is common. We tested hypotheses that lacking a medical home or having characteristics of more severe ASD is positively associated with having unmet dental need among children with ASD.

      Methods

      Using data from the 2009 to 2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, we analyzed 2772 children 5 to 17 years old with ASD. We theorized that unmet dental need would be positively associated with not having a medical home and having characteristics of more severe ASD (eg, parent reported severe ASD, an intellectual disability, communication, or behavior difficulties). Prevalence of unmet dental need was estimated, and unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P values were computed using survey methods for logistic regression.

      Results

      Nationally, 15.1% of children with ASD had unmet dental need. Among children with ASD, those without a medical home were more apt to have unmet dental need than those with a medical home (adjusted odds ratio, 4.46; 95% confidence interval, 2.59–7.69). Children with ASD with intellectual disability or greater communication or behavioral difficulties had greater odds of unmet dental need than those with ASD without these characteristics. Parent-reported ASD severity was not associated with unmet dental need.

      Conclusions

      Children with ASD without a medical home and with characteristics suggestive of increased ASD-related difficulties were more apt to have unmet dental need. Pediatricians might use these findings to aid in identifying children with ASD who might not receive all needed dental care.

      Keywords

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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: June 28, 2014
      Received: March 6, 2014

      Footnotes

      The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2014.06.023

      Copyright

      © 2014 Academic Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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