title: Oral health status, salivary flow rate and salivary quality in children, adolescents and young adults with ADHD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a childhood neurological disorder that presents in 3-7% of school-age children. Studies have shown that children, adolescents and young adults with ADHD are more prone to caries than those without.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study investigated a possible relationship between the oral health status of children, adolescents and young adults diagnosed with ADHD, both with and without pharmacological intervention, and the following: salivary flow rate, oral mucosal pH, plaque index (PI), oral hygiene and dietary behaviour.
  
  
  METHODS
  DMFT/dmft index (D;d-Decay, M;m-Missing; F;f-Filled,T;t-teeth), plaque index, oral mucosal pH and unstimulated whole salivary flow (USF) were examined in three groups of children, adolescents and young adults: those diagnosed with ADHD with no pharmacological intervention (N=31), those treated with medications for ADHD (N=30), and a healthy control group (N=30). Diet and oral health habits were assessed by means of questionnaires completed by parents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean USF values were 0.72, 0.85 and 1.13 ml/min for participants with ADHD and without medication, with ADHD and with medication, and without ADHD, respectively (p=0.016). There were no differences in the DMFT/dmft index and in parent reported diet and oral health behaviour between the three groups. Children with ADHD demonstrated a statistically significant higher plaque index (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ADHD group, with or without pharmacological intervention, showed higher plaque index and lower USF, but no difference in DMFT/dmft. The ADHD group did not differ from the non-ADHD group in their diet or oral health behaviour as assessed by parent reports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Hebrew University, Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Ariela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hidas
authors.forename: Avia Fux
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Noy
authors.forename: Noam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Birman
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shapira
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matot
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.forename: Moti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moskovitz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004245:DMF Index; D003774:Dental Plaque Index; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008774:Methylphenidate; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014099:Toothbrushing
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D008774:Methylphenidate