Comparison of different oral hygiene methods on children with attention deficit and hiper activity disorder

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder characterized by pervasive inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity, which can result in significant functional impairment. This condition has been described as the most common behavioral disorder of childhood and the most widely studied, but the condition still elicits controversies and differences of opinion. Although ADHD has been described as the most widely studied behavioral/emotional syndrome in children, the number of reports on the dental aspects of ADHD is low and their findings need validation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the gingival health and to compare the effects of behavioral and motivational approaches establishing good oral hygiene habits of children with ADHD to a control group without ADHD. Twenty-two children diagnosed with ADHD and medicated for this condition and 22 healthy controls were included in the study. Each groups were divided according to the oral hygiene methods used. PI and GI means of the children with ADHD were not statistically different than the control group. Each group demonstrated significant decrease in all parameters during the first week and first month. Test group for ADHD as well as control showed better improvements. At third month GI and PI means tended to reach baseline values. Determining effective means the improvement of patient?s behavior is important if the goal of managing the disease through self-care approaches is to be realized. The potential for psychological, theory-based interventions to provide some benefit beyond educational interventions were improved with our results. Inducing behavior change can help the prevention and treatment of oral diseases in children with ADHD.KEY WORDS: Oral Hygiene, Children, Attention Deficit Disorder, Oral Healthvii