Orthodontic Treatment Needs in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

TL;DR

Children with autism spectrum disorder need more orthodontic treatment than neurotypical children, especially boys, due to higher dental and aesthetic issues.

Contribution

This study quantifies increased orthodontic treatment needs in children with ASD compared to neurotypical peers using a validated index.

Findings

Children with ASD had significantly higher IOTN-DHC and IOTN-AC scores than controls.

Boys with ASD showed greater disparities in both dental health and aesthetic orthodontic needs.

No significant differences were found in mean overjet or overbite between the groups.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with a higher prevalence of oral health problems, including parafunctional habits and malocclusions, which may lead to increased orthodontic treatment needs. The objective of this study was to evaluate orthodontic disorders and treatment requirements in children with ASD compared to their neurotypical peers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 148 children aged 3–12 years, including 74 children with ASD and 74 controls matched for age and sex. Data were collected via caregiver questionnaires and clinical dental examinations. Malocclusions and orthodontic treatment requirements were assessed using the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN), including both the Dental Health Component (DHC) and Aesthetic Component (AC). Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests, Student’s t-tests, and effect size calculations, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Children with ASD exhibited significantly higher orthodontic treatment needs compared to controls, with elevated scores in both IOTN-DHC (p < 0.001) and IOTN-AC (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for the mean overjet or overbite between groups. Gender analysis revealed that boys with ASD had significantly higher scores in both IOTN-DHC and IOTN-AC, while girls with ASD differed from controls only in IOTN-AC. Conclusions: Children with ASD are at increased risk for orthodontic treatment, particularly for both health and aesthetic needs, with boys showing the most pronounced disparities. These findings highlight the importance of early orthodontic assessment and tailored preventive strategies in this population.