Adapted Dental Care for Pediatric Patients with ADHD

Objective: To analyze and synthesize the available scientific evidence on adapted dental care for patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with emphasis on behavior management strategies, adaptation of the clinical environment, and organizational criteria applicable to dental practice. Methods: Narrative review of the literature published between 2021 and 2026 in PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO, complemented by a Google Scholar search without date restriction. Original articles, randomizaed clinical trial and clinical guidelines addressing dental care, behavior management or clinical adaptations in patients with ADHD were included. Results: The search in PubMed, Scopus and EBSCO (104 records) yielded one studie meeting the inclusion criteria, and the complementary Google Scholar search added three more, for a final set of four studies. The master database with the metadata of the selected articles is openly available on OSF: https://n9.cl/sgz5i. Conclusions: This narrative review on the dental management of children with ADHD highlights that basic behavioral techniques, adapted communication, and gradual appointment progression remain fundamental pillars, optionally complemented by tools like virtual reality or audiovisual distraction. Due to the limited number of studies and their methodological differences, no technology replaces clinical interaction or demonstrates absolute superiority over conventional methods. Consequently, given the absence of a universally validated comprehensive protocol, care must be individualized to each patient's needs, underscoring the necessity for further research in this field.