自閉兒由於過動與情緒障礙的特質,在治療與預防上一直很難進行.本研究
的目的在於建立自閉兒口腔流行病學資料,以提供做為自閉兒醫療以及預
防的依據.研究方法採普查(census survey)方式,以1997高雄市社會局登
記領有自閉症殘障手冊的患者,以及高雄市自閉症協進會會員年齡3-33歲
共125位,為本研究對象,進行口腔檢查及問卷調查.齲齒診斷以WHO頒佈之
標準為依據.口腔檢查與問卷結果,願意接受檢查者共91位,總完成率
為72.80%,男生73位,女生18位,男女比例約為4:1.齲齒盛行率為89.01%,無
齲齒率為10.99%, 有齲齒者中,完全填補者為12.34%, 平均總齲齒顆數(
DMFT+dft)為5.26顆, 平均恆牙齲齒顆數(DMFT)為3.45顆, 平均乳牙齲齒
顆數(dft)為4.18顆, 平均填補率(filling rate)為22.63%. 主要照顧
者98.90%為母親. 23.80%的自閉症患者有自己清潔口腔的習慣. 保育者會
以甜食當鼓勵品佔57.14%. 主要保育者會檢查個案口腔佔47.25%. 就醫理
由中前三項以牙痛佔38.46%最高,其次齲齒佔26.37%, 第三是牙齦腫脹
佔13.19%.本研究結果顯示,主要保育者的口腔保健知識,自閉症患者的清
潔次數,患者看牙經驗,家庭參加協進會與否,母親的教育程度會影響自閉
症患者的齲齒經驗. 而齲齒填補率的高低與患者看牙經驗,患者智障程度,
母親職業有關. 與高雄市的正常兒童比較,具有較高的盛行率. 所以加強
宣導口腔衛生教育, 與定期檢查及預防的措施是我們今後施行的重點.

Behavior of patients with autistic syndrome makes delivery of
oral hygiene and dental treatment difficult. The purpose of this
study was to establish dental cariesepidemiology data to provide
a basis of dental prevention. A total of 125 patients,from 1997
the Kaohsiung bureau of social welfare and the Kaohsiung
Association ofCitizens with Autism certified, aged 3 to 33 years
old, were selected by census survey for this study of caries
status (including caries prevalence, DMFT,dft, andfilling rate)
and caries related factors. Caries was diagnosed on the basis of
WHO criteria and structured questionnaires(including family
status,sugar intake,oral cleaning habits of autistic patients
and the guardian, oral health attitudes and oral health
knowledge of the guardian). The complete rate was 72.80%. The
oral examination revealed that caries prevalence was 89.01% and
caries free percentage was 10.99%. 12.34% of autistic patients
who had dental caries completely receivedental fillings. The
mean DMFT+dft of all autistic patients was 5.26. The DMFT was
3.45, the dft was 4.18. The mean filling rate was 22.63%. From
the results ofthe questionnaire, the guardians were mostly
mothers(98.90%). The percentage of autistic patients who could
clean their own teeth was about 23.8%. The percentageof
guardians who gave sweet foods to autistic patients as
encouragement was 57.14%.47.25% of guardians regularly inspect
the oral condition of autistic patients.The reason of the
patients visit a dentist were toothache(38.46%), followed by
dental caries(26.37%), and gingival swelling(13.19%). The
results are as follows:(1)the oral health knowledge of the
guardian and autistic patient cleaning times,dental visits of
autistic patients, attending association of citizens with
autism,and education degree of mothers affected the DMFT+dft
numbers of autistic patients.(2) The filling rate was influenced
by the dental visits of autistic patients, occupation degree of
mother, mental retardation degree of autistic patients.
(3)Autistic patients have a high caries prevalence, low filling
rate. It is our targetto promote oral hygiene education and
advocate periodical oral health examinationsfor autistic
patients.