Children presenting with dental trauma are more hyperactive than controls as measured by the ADHD rating scale IV.

PURPOSE: Previous studies in the dental traumatology literature have proposed an association between incidence of dental trauma and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of comorbid dental trauma and ADHD in children presenting for both trauma-related and routine dental care.

METHODS

An Institutional Review Board-approved case group series study examined both populations using the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder rating scale IV (ARS).

RESULTS

Data were collected from 161 children. There were no differences in overall ARS score or in the inattentiveness subscale. Children with a confirmed recent history of dental trauma did score higher on the hyperactivity/impulsivity subscale (P<.001). There was no difference in subjects scoring above the 90th percentile on the ARS based on group.

CONCLUSION

Children presenting with dental trauma scored a higher baseline level of hyperactivity/impulsivity.