Making Trips to the Dentist Easier for People with Autism
From the loud, sharp noises to the bright fluorescent lights and close contact, there are many reasons why going to the dentist can be overwhelming for someone. Certain dental practices may not have sufficient training and experience in working with patients with autism, which may mean they do not know how to accomodate to patients special needs they may require. The American Dental Hygienist Association reported that 50% of dental students report no training in special needs patient care, and 75% report little to no preparation for care of special needs patients.
According to Wiley Online Library, people with autism are at greater risk for poor dental hygiene and dental diseases. This could potentially stem from issues with going to the dentist or daily dental hygiene issues. The American Dental Hygienist Association explains that a big factor in the poor dental hygiene experienced by people with autism is oral defensiveness, which can make brushing one’s teeth very uncomfortable and difficult. The Warren Center discusses how occupational therapists and speech pathologists work with children on the spectrum to improve their oral-motor skills and oral hygiene practices.
With the goal of making trips to the dentist easier, we have put together a list of tips for the following members of our community: parents or caregivers of people with autism, adults with autism, and dentists with patients on the autism spectrum.
Tips for Parents or Caregivers:
According to Harvard Health, trying to start your child off with dentist visits at a very early age is extremely effective. That is because the visits are fast and usually painless, and it will allow the child to form a trusted relationship with the dentist and the environment.
If there is anything specific that you know may comfort your child (ie. a weighted blanket, noise cancelling headphones, etc.), it would be helpful to bring it with you to the appointment.
Have a conversation with the dentist beforehand to give them an idea of what your child likes and what you think they may be sensitive to so that the dentist can keep that in mind during the visit.
Providing your child with a small hand-held mirror can be helpful because sometimes they may want to see what the dentist is doing to understand the senses they are experiencing.
Ask the dentist if they offer a different kind of x-ray in which it is not required to have large items placed in their mouth.
Reward your child for getting through different steps of the process, either after each step or after the visit.
According to Harvard Health, in extreme cases, anxiety-relieving medications may be helpful if the child cannot get their anxiety reduced in other ways during a dental visit.
Tips for Adults with Autism:
Try to let your dentist know of anything that they can do to make you as comfortable as possible during the appointment.
Bring anything you think may be helpful for you to stay comfortable during the visit with you to the appointment, especially if you know the dentist does not keep it in the office.
Staying consistent with going to the dentist is beneficial because it can help you familiarize yourself with your dentist and the environment, as well as improve your dental hygiene.
According to the National Autistic Society, if you are going to a new dentist, you should book a familiarizing appointment to get to know the dentist and the environment, and discuss with the dentist anything you want them to be aware of before your visit.
To find the right dentist for you, look up dentists with Certified Autism Specialists (CAS) near you, or call some offices to find out if they have a CAS in their office.
Tips for Dentists with Patients on the Autism Spectrum:
According to the Wiley Online Library, you should make a little bit more time for the appointment if you know that the patient has any special needs, as they might need more time than others to go over procedures and get comfortable.
Try to schedule an appointment when the office will be less busy, most likely first thing in the morning when the office opens.
If you notice signs of sensory sensitivity, ask the patient if there is anything you can do or change to help them.
Talk the patient through the process and let them know what you are doing before starting each step.
Try to make the environment as comfortable as possible by turning down any bright fluorescent lights, eliminating loud noises, and warn the patient if and when there are going to be any unavoidable loud noises. Helping a patient with ASD know what to expect throughout an appointment and explaining the sequence of events is known as Tell-Show-Do, and it is very beneficial to the patient.
Playing soothing music may also be effective unless the patient expresses that they would prefer silence.
If it is clear that the patient has poor dental hygiene, try to provide them with some easy ways that they can improve their dental hygiene at home.
If you have not already, look for training or guides on how to treat patients on the autism spectrum
Some suggestions for training on treating patients with autism in a dental setting can be seen here.
Consider becoming a Certified Autism Specialist to receive thorough training on how to treat a patient with autism
Dental hygiene is very important and it is crucial that dental offices know how to work with people on the spectrum so that they feel comfortable taking trips to the dentist and can avoid the dental hygiene issues that many people on the autism spectrum face. The American Dental Association offers many ways that dental offices can make visits more comfortable for people on the autism spectrum and reduce sensory overload, and we hope that more dental offices adopt these ways in the near future.