Oral health conditions, dental visits and dental care utilization among developmentally disabled adolescents
with obesity

Almost 6 in every 10 adolescents have experienced dental caries or tooth decay. National data shows that almost 16% of developmentally disabled (DD) children and adolescents including those with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental disabilities (ODDs) have unmet dental care need. Adolescence is a unique phase in human development during which adolescents experience rapid physical cognitive and psychological growth hormonal changes and freedom to experience risky behaviors. Prevalence of DDs in adolescents has significantly increased in the past two decades and so has obesity/overweight. Evidence shows that adolescents have a higher prevalence of ASD/ODDs and obesity which makes ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity a high-risk group for health complications. Obesity and dental caries are prevalent but preventable chronic childhood diseases that share common risk factors. Little is known about oral health conditions dental visits and utilization of dental care among ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity within the U.S. In order to develop interventions public health programs or health policies to achieve positive oral health outcomes for ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity one must understand the adolescent family and community level risk factors associated with oral health conditions dental visits and utilization of dental care. AIMS: To: 1) Describe the characteristics of ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity (Group A) and compare with ASD/ODD adolescents without obesity (Group B) adolescents without ASD/ODD with obesity (Group C) and adolescents with neither ASD/ODD nor obesity (Group D); 2) Determine the prevalence of oral health conditions (Tooth aches bleeding gums tooth decay) in Group A compared to Groups B C and D; and 3) Assess the prevalence of dental visits and preventive dental care utilization (Fluoride treatment and Dental sealants) in the past 12 months in Group A compared to Groups B C and D. PROPOSED ACTIVITY & SAMPLE: We will use the pooled data from 2016 2017 2018 and 2019 of the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) that collects data on children and adolescents of ages 0 to 17 years through reports of parents/caregivers. Because our study focuses on adolescents we will restrict the analysis to adolescents of ages 10 to 17 (n=68 942). Group A made 6.9% (n= 4 578) of the entire sample. We will achieve the aims by conducting multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for adolescent family and community/neighborhood level factors as informed by a multilevel conceptual framework on pediatric oral health disparities developed by Fisher-Owens et al. IMPACT & INNOVATION: The study will be the first to study the oral health conditions dental visits and preventive dental care utilization of a high-risk subgroup -ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity using a nationally representative sample. The study will help understand the differences in adolescent family and community level risk factors among ASD/ODD adolescents with obesity thus informing potential interventions to reduce disparities in oral health status among this group.

Bhoopathi V, Wells C, Ramos-Gomez F, Atchison KA. Difficulty with Oral Health Complications in Adolescents with Developmental Disability and Obesity [published online ahead of print, 2022 Apr 20]. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2022;23800844221090447. doi:10.1177/23800844221090447 DOI:10.1177/23800844221090447 April 2022 35442123

Atchison KA, Bhoopathi V, Wells CR. Hospital emergency department visits made by developmentally disabled adolescents with oral complications. Front Oral Health. 2022;3:955584. doi:10.3389/froh.2022.955584 " DOI:10.3389/froh.2022.955584 August 2022 36046122

Bhoopathi V, Wells C, Atchison KA. Dental care utilization among developmentally disabled adolescents experiencing difficulty with decayed teeth: A population-level study. Spec Care Dentist. 2022 Dec 27. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12817 December 2022 Spec Care Dentist

Bhoopathi V, Wells C, Atchison KA. Dental care utilization among developmentally disabled adolescents experiencing difficulty with decayed teeth: A population-level study. Spec Care Dentist. 2022 Dec 27. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12817 December 2022 Spec Care Dentist

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