Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dental caries – evaluation of child patients

Introduction
Research provides evidence of increased incidence of caries among children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although not all studies confirm such a regularity, numerous hypotheses indicate that such a relationship may exist. The occurrence of hyperkinetic disorders may adversely affect the possibilities and willingness to implement and adhere to good hygiene and nutrition standards.

Objectives
The aims of the study were as follows: 1) to perform an analysis of oral health of children and adolescents with ADHD, 2) to assess the impact of ADHD on the development of caries, 3) to compare decay-missing-filled (DMF) index and its components in children and adolescents with ADHD with a group of healthy people.

Material and methods
The study included a group of 120 children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD based on DSM-IV/V classification or hyperkinetic syndrome based on ICD-10 classification. In each case, the diagnosis was made by a psychiatrist. The control group comprised 120 people who were not diagnosed with ADHD. The age of the subjects ranged between 7 and 17 years. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index, and frequency and intensity of caries in both groups were calculated.

Results
It was found that caries were slightly more common in the group with ADHD (75.83%) than in the control group (65.00%). Studies have shown that the number of D, M, and DMF were higher in the group with ADHD compared to the control group, while the number F was slightly higher in the control group.

Conclusions
The obtained high values of caries indexes indicate unsatisfactory dental health of the examined group of children and adolescents. The caries treatment index had a much lower value in children and adolescents with ADHD than in the control group. Children and adolescents with ADHD should be included in the group of patients with increased risk of oral disease.