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Table 10 Included studies with descriptions of levels of unmet dental need where these were reported narratively but without supporting numerical data

From: Dental caries experience, care index and restorative index in children with learning disabilities and children without learning disabilities; a systematic review and meta-analysis

Study

Disability for CLD group

Relative level of unmet dental need in CLD compared with CNLD

Narrative text on dental care provided for caries

Cornejo 1996 [29, 49]

Down

Higher for CLD

DS children receive less treatment of the deciduous dentition - this may be due to the delay in eruption of the teeth when examined alongside non-DS children of a similar age.

El Khatib 2014 [22]

Autism

Higher for CLD

In the primary dentition, children with ASD had more untreated caries. In the mixed stage, ASD children with ASD had less filled teeth than children without ASD.

Jaber 2011 [26]

Autism

Higher for CLD

Autistic children receive 60% less treatment.

Palin 1982 [60]

Range of conditions

Higher for CLD

In comparison with the healthy, the retarded children are not given enough dental care with respect to their treatment need.

Stabholz 1991 [63]

Down

Higher for CLD

Authors hypothesise that because treating those with DS and MR (institutionalised) is more expensive, more complex and requires more specialised personnel, only a small proportion of their needs are met.

Forsberg 1985 [24]

Range of conditions

Lower for CLD

The severely mentally retarded children had been offered dental care to the same extent as healthy children