PracticeUpdateAdolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder are at an Increased Risk for Periodontitis

How can we better integrate oral health care into the overall management of adolescents with autism spectrum disorder?

A recent retrospective cohort study has shed light on the significant correlation between adolescent autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the development of periodontitis, underscoring the importance of oral health in this population.

Key Points:

• Adolescents with ASD are at a significantly higher risk of developing periodontitis compared to those without ASD.
• The onset of periodontitis occurs nearly 4 years earlier in adolescents with ASD than in those without.
• ASD and intellectual disability independently increase the risk of periodontitis.
• The study utilized data from 2001 to 2011 from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, involving 3,473 adolescents with ASD and 34,730 age- and sex-matched individuals without ASD.

Additional Points:

• The findings remained consistent across subanalyses stratified by sex and intellectual disability.
• The average age of periodontitis onset was significantly lower in individuals with ASD (17.97 years) compared to those without ASD (21.86 years).

Conclusion:

• ASD is an independent risk factor for the development of periodontitis, highlighting the need for regular oral examinations, early treatment, and good oral hygiene maintenance in patients with ASD.

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Did You Know?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of 2020, approximately 1 in 54 children in the United States is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, a significant increase from the 1 in 150 children diagnosed in the year 2000.