The data revealed that adults with ADHD rated their oral health as fair or poor (35.5 per cent) and were embarrassed about the state of their oral health in greater numbers than those without ADHD (24.9 per cent). They also reported visiting a dentist less often, but more often seeking dental care through emergency care, compared to neurotypical adults.
Those with ADHD also reported experiencing discrimination in the oral health care setting and experienced higher levels of dental anxiety.
Leslie Carver, chief operating officer at CareQuest Institute, said, “The data illustrates some of the many disparities that exist in oral health and the need to work toward a more accessible and equitable system.
“While not all adults with ADHD have poor oral health, it is important for oral health professionals to be aware of the potential oral health challenges associated with ADHD and consult with their patients to help them achieve optimal oral health.”
Key findings include:
· More adults with ADHD reported being embarrassed by their teeth or mouth very often, often, or occasionally compared to adults without ADHD (48.4 per cent vs. 29.6 per cent)
· More adults with ADHD (40.4 per cent) reported not having visited a dentist in more than a year compared to adults without ADHD (31.9 per cent)
· More adults with ADHD reported having visited an emergency department for dental care in the past year compared to adults without ADHD (13 per cent vs. 2.3 per cent)
· A higher percentage of adults with ADHD report having experienced discrimination in an oral health care setting (11.7 per cent) compared to adults without ADHD (7 per cent)