Autism

Abstract

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder ASD refers to a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. According to the Centers for Disease Control, autism affects an estimated 1 in 59 children in the United States today: 1 in 37 boys, 1 in 151 girls. Types of autism in children are autistic disorder ASD, Asperger’s Syndrome AS, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder CDD, Rett’s Syndrome RTT, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified PDD-NOS. Most common dental problems in autistic pediatric patients are: Gingival overgrowth 4.8%, Early and late tooth decay 9.5%, Severe, early periodontal gum disease 8.5%, The habit of constantly grinding their teeth, which is also known as bruxism, Tooth anomalies that are related to the size, shape, and the number of teeth present 15%, Accelerated, inconsistent, and/or delayed eruption of one or more teeth 23%. Children with autism in Yemen have high prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions, caries, and gingivitis. Therefore, proper oral health education programs should be initiated and directed toward this special section of the society. Difficulties facing pediatric dentist dealing with autistic patients is considered to children, have extreme sensory and oral motor integration and the dentist can be a very frightful experience, like dental management for autistic patients, clear communication in understandable words, using simple words to explain the next move, involving the patient in treatment procedure through behavior guidance, rewarding the child after each successful intervention.