title: Oral health status and dental needs of autistic children and young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Children with autism might need more dental care than non-autistic, healthy children. The aims of this study were: (a) to describe the caries experience and treatment needs of autistic children aged 6-16 years in the United Arab Emirates; and (b) to provide baseline data at national and regional levels to enable comparisons and future planning of dental services for children with autism.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children attending a day centre in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for autism were selected for the study. Sixty-one autistic children aged 6-16 years (45 males and 16 females) were included in the study. Each patient received a complete oral and periodontal examination using codes and criteria as described by the World Health Organization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean for Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth/decayed, missing, and filled teeth was 2.4. Female autistic children had significantly higher mean Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth/decayed, missing, and filled teeth scores (4.4) than males (1.63). The percentage of decayed, missing, and filled teeth increased with increasing age. The restorative index and met need index for the autistic children aged 11-15 years were 0.02 and 0.10, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective oral health promotion strategies need to be implemented to improve the oral health status of autistic children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates Department of Growth and Development, College of Dentistry, Ajman University of S'cience and Technology, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Mohamed A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayyab
authors.forename: Salem H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Abu Fanas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D004245:DMF Index; D019140:Dental Care for Children / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000453:epidemiology; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005891:Gingivitis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009911:Oral Hygiene Index; D010512:Periodontal Index; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000453:epidemiology; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: autism; autistic disorder; caries; dental; oral health