Autism spectrum disorders and childhood caries: a comprehensive Mendelian randomization study.

This genetic study looked at whether autism conditions affect tooth decay in children. Researchers found that one type of developmental condition (PDD) may increase the risk of cavities in permanent teeth, while autism spectrum disorder might actually protect against cavities in permanent teeth. No effects were found on baby teeth. The study used genetic data to establish these connections, providing new insights into dental health in autism.

This Mendelian randomization study investigated causal relationships between autism spectrum disorders and childhood dental caries using genetic data from European populations. The analysis examined ASD and pervasive developmental disorder (PDD, excluding ASD and Asperger's syndrome) as exposures, with childhood caries in primary and permanent teeth as outcomes. Results indicated that PDD (excluding ASD/AS) causally increases risk of caries in permanent teeth (OR: 1.151, 95%CI: 1.043-1.270). Conversely, ASD showed potential protective effects against permanent tooth caries (OR: 0.923, 95%CI: 0.873-1.003).

No causal associations were found between either condition and primary tooth caries. The study provides novel genetic evidence for differential dental health outcomes across autism spectrum conditions.

Findings suggest autism subgroups may require different dental care approaches. PDD patients may benefit from enhanced preventive dental care for permanent teeth, while the potential protective effect in ASD warrants further investigation. Results challenge one-size-fits-all dental health recommendations for autism spectrum conditions.

Study limited to European ancestry populations, limiting generalizability. Sample sizes not reported. Mendelian randomization assumptions may not hold. The protective effect of ASD on permanent tooth caries did not reach statistical significance (p=0.051).

This study aimed to investigate the causal relationships between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) (excluding ASD and Asperger's syndrome [AS]) and childhood caries (primary teeth and permanent teeth). We conducted two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis by utilizing summary-level data of ASD and PDD (excluding ASD and AS) as exposures, and childhood caries (primary teeth and permanent teeth) as outcomes. The results showed that PDD (excluding ASD and AS) to be causally associated with caries in permanent teeth according to the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) (odds ratio [OR]: 1.151, 95%CI: 1.043-1.270, P = 0.005) and weighted median (OR: 1.159, 95%CI: 1.029-1.306, P = 0.015). However, according to the IVW (OR: 0.923, 95%CI: 0.873-1.003, P = 0.051), ASD might be causally associated with caries in permanent teeth.

The results also showed no causal association between ASD or PDD (excluding ASD and AS) and caries in primary teeth. Our study showed PDD (excluding ASD and AS) to have pathogenic effects on childhood caries of permanent teeth among a population of European ancestry. However, ASD was shown to have protective effects on childhood caries of permanent teeth.