Survival of different caries managements in children with autism and unaffected peers: a retrospective cohort study

Authors

  • C Salerno Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland - Graduate School for Health Sciences, University of Bern
  • A Allam Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan
  • S Cirio Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan
  • A Malerba San Paolo Hospital. Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan
  • AC Ionescu Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan
  • GM Tartaglia UOC Maxillo-Facial Surgery and Dentistry Fondazione IRCCS Cà Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, 20100 Milan
  • G Campus Department of Restorative, Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 7, 3012 Bern, Switzerland - Department of Surgery, Microsurgery and Medicine Sciences – School of Dentistry University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy - Department of Cariology, Saveethe Dental College and Hospitals, SIMATS, Chennai, India - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome
  • MG Cagetti Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Via Beldiletto 1, 20142 Milan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23804/ejpd.2024.2151

Keywords:

Paediatric Dentistry, Public Health Dentistry, Dental Atraumatic Restorative Treatment, Silver Diamine Fluoride, Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

AIM: Dental caries is a common oral disease in children with special needs such as those with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The aim is to assess whether the type and survival of three caries management, conventional resin restorations (CR), ART technique (ART) and SDF application without caries removal (SDF), in primary teeth carried out at the Pediatric Dentistry Department of San Paolo Hospital (University of Milan) differed between children with ASDs and unaffected peers. METHODS: Data from a convenience sample of children with and without ASDs, who have received dental care for caries in primary teeth from January 2019 to June 2022, were analysed. Medical history, age, sex, teeth treated, and type of treatment were collected from dental charts. Data on success and minor and major failures of each treatment were also collected. Two survival analysis were performed, one considering both major and minor failures, a second considering only major failures. Cox Proportional Hazards multivariate logistic models were run to assess factors associated with failures. The statistical significance was set at 5% (p< 0.05). CONCLUSION: In children with autism, the different techniques for approaching caries lesions seem to have the same probability of success. Therefore, the choice of treatment should be patient-oriented rather than lesion-oriented. In unaffected children, the gold standard always seems to be traditional restorative treatment.