Behavioral and Social Determinants of Oral Health in Children With Special Health Care Needs

At first glance, this finding may seem to be paradoxical on the basis of the assumption that preventive dental service use is causally related to oral health. However, the greatest contributor to poor oral health in CYSHCN is not a lack of preventive dental services. For example, previous researchers have suggested that dental caries among children with autism spectrum disorders likely include a cariogenic diet, sugar-sweetened and xerostomiacausing medications, and poor oral hygiene practices. As LebrunHarris et al state, a potential reason for poor oral health among CYSHCN is sociobehavioral, which is not addressed directly through preventive dental visits. Instead, the primary objectives of preventive dental visits for children are typically diagnosis, restorative treatment planning, and monitoring for future disease.

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