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.