Oral health status and dental needs of autistic children and young adults.

Aim:   Children with autism might need more dental care than non-autistic, healthy children. The aims of this study were: (a) to describe the caries experience and treatment needs of autistic children aged 6-16 years in the United Arab Emirates; and (b) to provide baseline data at national and regional levels to enable comparisons and future planning of dental services for children with autism.

Methods:   All children attending a day centre in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, for autism were selected for the study.