title: Caries experience associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
abstract: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to examine whether children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) had a total caries experience that was equivalent to children without the disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  The test sample included children ages 6 to 10 years old diagnosed with ADHD by physicians at Duke University Medical Center. The control group also included healthy children 6 to 10 years old without the diagnosis of ADHD. A visual dental exam for caries was performed and a sample of whole, unstimulated saliva was collected. The parent/guardian of each participant completed a health/medication history and a questionnaire concerning the child's oral health and habits, daily routine, and demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wilcoxon and chi-square tests showed that children with ADHD have significantly more enamel caries in the primary and permanent dentitions and a significantly higher prevalence of total caries experience when compared to controls. There was no significant difference in whole saliva production between the ADHD children and the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dentists should be aware that children with ADHD are at higher risk for caries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA.
authors.forename: Michael Todd
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Grooms
authors.forename: Martha Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Keels
authors.forename: Michael W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: F Thomas
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: McIver
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism