20 - Dental Maturation, Anomalies, and Orthodontics in Autism: A Case-Control Study

Abstract:

Purpose: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition associated with systemic and craniofacial variations, yet dental developmental characteristics in this population remain incompletely described. This study evaluated dental anomalies, differences between chronological and dental age, and orthodontic malocclusion patterns in children with ASD compared with age- and sex-matched typically developing (TD) peers.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted using clinical and radiographic records from pediatric patients ages 3 to 18 years treated at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Two hundred children with ASD were matched by age and sex to 200 TD controls. Panoramic and intraoral radiographs were assessed for anomalies of shape, number, position, structure, and other pathologies. Dental age was estimated using the Demirjian method and compared with chronological age. Orthodontic characteristics, including overjet, overbite, and canine-molar classification, were recorded. Statistical analyses included chi-square and paired t-tests.

Results: Children with ASD demonstrated a higher prevalence of ectopic eruption and pyramidal molars (P < .05), although total anomaly frequency did not differ significantly between groups. Mean dental age exceeded chronological age among boys with ASD, while no significant difference was observed among girls. Orthodontic evaluation revealed increased prevalence of Class II malocclusion, anterior open bite, and excessive overjet in the ASD cohort (P < .05).

Conclusions: Children with ASD exhibit distinct patterns of dental maturation, eruption, and malocclusion despite similar overall anomaly prevalence compared with TD peers. These findings suggest underlying neurodevelopmental or genetic influences on craniofacial growth and highlight the importance of targeted dental assessment in this population.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: There was no funding received for this project.