Key Points
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Dentists treating patients with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) should be aware of the high levels of self-injurious behaviour within this group.
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Exfoliation of a deciduous tooth with an intact root warrants further investigation.
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Unexplained dental pain in a child with autism may be due to self-injury.
Abstract
Many children with mild/moderate autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) receive care in general dental practice. We report a seven year old boy with ASD presenting with dental pain who auto-extracted one of his deciduous canines. Children with ASD may have hyposensitivity to pain and can exhibit unusual forms of self-injurious behaviour.
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Ross-Russell, M., Sloan, P. Autoextraction in a child with autistic spectrum disorder. Br Dent J 198, 473–474 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812250
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4812250
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