Long Term Study Shows Preventative Measures Work Better in Combination
Children with autism often have poor oral health and are at greater risk for gingivitis, tooth decay, and cavities. To make matters worse, kids on the spectrum are frequently distressed at dental appointments since it often includes experiencing several noises, smells, vibrations, and visual stimuli that can induce fear and anxiety. These challenging circumstances can cause parents of children with autism to avoid dental examinations, preventative procedures, and treatments, which end up leading to more dental issues. A new long-term retrospective cohort study aimed to help children with autism achieve better oral health outcomes by investigating the dental carries (e.g., tooth decay or cavities) survival of first permanent molars by applying dental sealant and fluoride varnish. This study’s design divided the participants into two groups. Group one had first permanent molars treated with fluoride varnishes only. Group two had their molars treated with dental sealant and fluoride varnishes. The study’s authors ran logistic and multivariate analyses to evaluate the caries incidence, the retention rate of sealants, and other factors associated with poor dental health for a period of at least 11 years. At the end of the study, the fluoride varnish plus dental sealant group had significantly less tooth decay and cavities than the fluoride varnish group alone. The dental sealant retention rate ranged from 58.02% to 64.29%, which pleased the study’s authors. This study suggests that fluoride varnishes in conjunction with dental sealants should be routinely applied to children with autism to maintain maximum dental health.
