2. Autistic children like soft and sweetened
food.
A wide spectrum of medical, psychological
and behavioural symptoms makes dental care
difficult in them.
Many studies have found no or little
differences in the caries status between
autistic children and normal children thereby
necessitating the need to assess the
protective role of saliva.
3. Most psychiatric disorders are associated with
increased oxidative stress.
It shows, temper tantrums, hyperactivity, self
injurious behaviour and inability to express
themselves and these increases the stress
levels and alter the antioxidant levels
The need to evaluate the oral health status,
salivary pH and salivary total antioxidant
concentration of these children.
4. Study groups : Medium functioning (IQ:50-70)
Low functioning (IQ<50)
Control group : siblings of these children
The un-stimulated whole saliva samples were
collected 9-10 am from both group
Oral health and treatment needs :OHI-S
Dentition status and treatment needs : WHO
oral health assessment form.
The salivary total anti-oxidant level :
spectrophotometer , PH : pH indicating paper
5. 66/101 autistic children had caries.
74/101 autistic children had mixed dentition
31/74 children had dental caries
6.
7.
8.
9. Incidence of dental caries in autistic children
and siblings is non significant.
Salivary TAC gives an indication to the
susceptibility of oral disease.
Autistic children : 8.14 micrograms/ml
Siblings : 43.31 micrograms/ml
Emotional and psychological stress increase
the bodily concentration of oxidizing
substances, such as ROS, free radicals
decreased salivary antioxidant levels
10. Parafunctional habits such as thumb
sucking, mouth breathing and tongue
thrusting lower antioxidant levels
Perioral hypotonic musculature makes them
anatomical mouth breathers, gingivitis
Low functioning group has lowest salivary
TAC dute to more severely compromised
ability, stressful conditions.
11. Similar dental caries status was observed in
children with autism and their healthy normal
siblings.
Oral hygiene was poor in children with autism.
Salivary TAC was significantly reduced in
autistic children than healthy counterparts.
