Dentistry For Kids With ADHD

Posted on: 20 May 2015

Getting a child to sit still in the dental chair can be a challenge -- more so if your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Many kids with ADHD get fidgety and can't follow instructions. Although a child who gets distracted easily and needs to be in constant motion can be difficult to manage at the dentist's office, it isn't an impossible task. In addition to the behavioral issues, ADHD and the medicines used to treat it can contribute to a number of oral problems a dentist must watch for.

Managing the Behavior

You can get your ADHD child to cooperate at the dentist's office by taking these practical steps.

  • Have your child burn off energy before his or her dental appointment.

  • Explain to the dentist that fidgeting -- whether squirming in the dental chair or the jiggling of feet -- is your child's way of focusing his or her attention.

  • Let the dentist know your child can sit still for only a short time and may need brief breaks during the exam or procedure. Stress that boredom is the enemy.

  • Allow your child to take along a favorite video game that holds his or her attention when you are sitting in the waiting room. Kids with ADHD like video games that require a constant shift of attention.

Watching for Common Dental Problems

Cavities, bleeding gums, bruxism (teeth grinding), and injury are common problems dentists see in kids with ADHD. Like other children, these kids often have dental problems related to lack of proper dental hygiene.

Dental Injuries

Mouth and dental injuries are common in all children; however, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that kids with ADHD can get hurt more frequently than their peers without ADHD. In some cases, a child's ADHD-related impulsive behaviors may lead to traumatic dental injury.

Teeth Grinding

If your child has a habit of grinding the teeth, your dentist will check his or her teeth for signs of damaged tooth enamel, including cracked and chipped teeth. Extreme teeth grinding can lead to facial pain, headaches, and painful jaws.

Teeth grinding can also lead to temporomandibular disorders (TMD) -- another problem dentists often see in kids with ADHD. Symptoms of TMD include jaw pain and restricted movement of the jaw.

Medication Side Effects

Some of the medications children with ADHD take can affect their oral health. Doctors generally prescribe stimulant medications to treat hyperactivity. While methylphenidate (Ritalin) often is the first drug of choice, health care providers also use dextroamphetamine (Adderall), which contains amphetamine.

A study published in the medical journal Pediatric Dentistry found that amphetamine use increases the risk of gingival hyperplasia -- enlargement of the gum tissue. Your child's gums may bleed easily and look red or purple in color. Regular checkups with a pediatric dentist, like those at Apollo Dental Center, will help you monitor and prevent any medication side effects.

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