Abstract:
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are known to be more susceptible to oral
disease, with a higher DMFT (decayed, missing, filled teeth) index score compared to their typically
developing peers. This is due to limited access to dental care services, involvement in self-injurious
behaviors, and the adoption of dietary patterns that cause tooth decay. This study aims to consolidate
academic knowledge through a systematic review identifying studies that compared children with
autism to healthy control groups and examining the association between DMFT index scores and ASD
by searching four representative literature databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google
Scholar) for publications spanning the years 2004 to 2024. Following the PRISMA checklist, a total of
fourteen case-control studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of these studies reported that
children with ASD tend to have higher DMFT index scores compared to healthy controls. The findings
of this study suggest that ASD is associated with a higher DMFT index score, indicating a potential
increased risk of dental caries and oral health problems in children and adolescents with autism
spectrum disorders. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify
effective interventions to improve dental health outcomes in this population.
