Dental management and behavioral considerations in pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A narrative review

Divya Rajpurohit¹ image, Dinesh Rao2 image, Sunil Panwar3 image, Surbhi Sharma4 image, Manan Phalke5 image

Highlights

Children with ADHD face higher risk of caries, trauma, and bruxism due to behavioral challenges and medication side effects.

Effective dental care requires tailored strategies including short visits, simple instructions, and positive reinforcement.

Multidisciplinary collaboration among dentists, caregivers, and healthcare providers is essential for comprehensive care.

Abstract

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental condition that affected children’s behavior, learning, and oral health. This narrative review aimed to synthesize current evidence on diagnostic considerations, comorbidities, behavioral manifestations, and dental management strategies in pediatric patients with ADHD. A structured electronic search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Lilacs, BBO, and SciELO databases for English-language publications from 1971 to 2022. Of 145 records initially identified, 54 met the inclusion criteria. All studies were critically appraised by two independent reviewers to assess methodological rigor and relevance to pediatric dental practice. Children with ADHD were consistently reported to have an elevated risk of dental caries, traumatic dental injuries, and bruxism, largely attributable to behavioral challenges, poor oral hygiene practices, and side effects of stimulant medications. ADHD was also frequently associated with comorbid psychiatric and functional impairments that further complicated dental management. Effective care should be facilitated by short, well-timed appointments, simplified instructions, use of positive reinforcement, and coordination with caregivers and healthcare providers. A comprehensive understanding of the behavioral, medical, and pharmacological dimensions of ADHD is indispensable for pediatric dental practitioners. Individualized, multidisciplinary approaches are essential to optimize oral health outcomes and overall quality of life in children with ADHD.

Keywords: Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; Behavior; Dental Management; Narrative Review; Oral Health; Pediatric Dentistr

Author Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College & Hospital, India

  2. Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College & Hospital, India (Correspondence:pedodinesh2003@yahoo.co.in)

  3. Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College & Hospital, India

  4. Senior Lecturer, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College & Hospital, India

  5. Senior Lecturer, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Pacific Dental College & Hospital, India

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Article Info

Contemp Pediatr Dent 2025:6(2):105-122

Received: 25 June 2025

Accepted: 21 August 2025

Online First: 28 August 2025

DOI: 10.51463/cpd.2025.31

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					Divya Rajpurohit, Dinesh Rao, Sunil Panwar, Surbhi Sharma, Manan Phalke. Dental management and behavioral considerations in pediatric patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A narrative review. Contemp Pediatr Dent 2025:6(2):105-122

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