Oral Findings In A Group of Egyptian Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is the most common childhood neuro-developmental disorder that is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms last till adulthood in 65% of cases. ADHD has been reported to have a worldwide prevalence of 5.3% and it is more common in boys than in girls (Ghanizadeh 2008; Serra-Negra et al. 2012 and Shooshtari et al. 2013) The symptoms of ADHD are generally treated through behavioral therapy, with or without pharmacological intervention. Medications prescribed are commonly divided into stimulant or non-stimulant drugs. The stimulant medications (such as methylphenidate and amphetamines) have been implicated in adverse oral effects, such as xerostomia and gingival enlargement. The current evidence is controversial regarding the severity and prevalence of dental caries, dental trauma, periodontal diseases, oral habits and tooth wear among patients with ADHD (Chau et al. 2017).

In the Arab world, few studies have been published on ADHD. Accordingly, in the Arab society and Egypt there are limited data regarding the oral findings of children with ADHD. Owing to the sparsity of these data, this study will be conducted to evaluate different oral characteristics of Egyptian children with ADHD.