Access to dental visits and correlates of preventive dental care in children with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
(2020)Abstract
Aims and Objectives:
To examine access and receipt of dental services among children with ASD.
Method:
The researchers analyzed data from 375 families participating in the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) registry. Parents in the ATN were asked questions about their child’s dental care. These answers were compared to those from a national survey.
Results:
Families in the ATN reported levels of dental care similar to the national survey. These families reported more dental care than the national survey in some areas. Disparities were found within the ATN participating families. Consistently, it was found that children with lower intellectual functioning had reduced access to and received less preventative dental care.
Conclusions
It is possible for children with ASD, including those with significant symptom severity and functional limitations, to access dental care at a rate similar to the general population. Disparities in dental care receipt are still present among children with ASD.