SHARED-Autism and the Dentist – Tips for the Visit

SHARED-Autism and the Dentist – Tips for the Visit One aspect of health care than can be considerably more difficult for kids with autism is seeing the dentist, autism and the dentist don’t naturally mix. Dental care is made more difficult because kids with autism have so many sensory issues. The dentist office can be a scary place, even for people without autism. There are so many things that make noise and feel weird, so many people close by you who want to put things in your mouth and do strange things to you that may hurt. What can you do to help your child with autism at the dentist’s? Autism and the Dentist – Special Needs Dentistry There is actually a subset of dentistry called special needs dentistry. A special needs dentist has usually received at least some training on how to work with kids and adults with a variety of disabilities. Some will devote all or most of their practice to working with special needs patients. These dentists can be good to seek out, because they have experience in how to make the visit as comfortable and tolerable as possible for your child with autism. You can google the term “special needs dentist” with your city and state, or ask your doctor or autism society if they know of anyone in your area. Autism and the Dentist – How to Make the Appointment go More Smoothly Seeing a dedicated special needs dentist is not always possible, however. Sometimes, you just need to find a patient dentist who is willing to be educated. You can share tips with them about how to make the appointment work for your child. 1. Call dentists in your area ahead of time and tell them you have a child with autism. Tell them that you may require more time in the visit. Talk about the unique challenges that your kid has. What tends to put them at ease? What sensitivities do they have that you have to avoid? Do loud noises bother them? Does touch bother them? Etc. 2. Consider sedation. There is actually a whole specialty of dentistry called sedation dentistry, which helps people with either a lot of fear of the dentist or other problems be able to be calm enough to withstand dental treatment. This can be done using nitrous oxide (otherwise known as laughing gas), or short-term acting anti-anxiety medications like Ativan. You can discuss these options with the dentist when you meet him or her. 3. Talk to the dentist about your expectations and their policies. Some kids with autism have trouble lying or sitting still for very long. You will want to think about how you can manage that. Some dentists will have a policy of restraining special needs kids who can’t sit still. You want to make sure that you are on the same page as the dentist on issues like this before any treatment starts. 4. Allow your child to have some control over the process. Try to visit the office ahead of time to familiarize your child with it, to give them time to see what it’s like. During the appointment, if they can do little things like holding the tubes that squirt water and so on to keep their mind off what is happening, it may help. 5. Keep in mind sensory issues. You may want to reduce the amount of lighting in the room, or have your child wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the glare. Music can be a great distraction – bring an IPOD with their favorite music on it. Make things as quiet as possible, and tell your child what is going to happen before it happens. 6. Something is better than nothing. With some kids, you won’t be able to get as much as you want accomplished at first. In fact, you may only be able to accomplish a cursory visit to make sure nothing is majorly wrong. Take what you can get and keep your expectations realistic. 7. Be aware of the risk factors for autism and dental problems. Kids with autism are often sensitive orally, which can make teeth brushing and other oral care routines difficult. Also, parents may avoid going to the dentist as often as they should because it’s such a difficult thing to do. Habits such as chewing and biting can alter certain tooth structures which may need attention. Using candy as a reward for things can increase the risk of cavities. Autism and the Dentist – Things to Consider When Choosing a Dentist There are several factors you should take into account when choosing a dentist. Experience You don’t always want the dentist with the most experience. Sometimes, a dentist with less experience and enough patience and knowledge to work well with kids with autism will be the best choice. Don’t put medical knowledge above all else. It is important, yes, but so is ability for the dentist to work well with autism. Insurance Sometimes the dentist that is the best fit for your child will be out of your network of approved dentists. Find out how much it will cost to go out of network, and if your insurance will pay anything. Ask if the dentist will submit paperwork. Personality You want the best possible match for your child with autism, and personality is important too. You want someone who is patient and willing to accommodate your child’s needs. Someone who will try to understand them and build a relationship with them. We all respond better to people who try to build relationships with us rather than just treating us like a number on a chart. Those with autism are no different – they can sense if someone really cares or not. The right dentist can make a lot of difference for the anxiety issues your kid may have. Issues with autism and the dentist can be tricky, but the right dentist will make it a lot easier. Tips for Improving Oral Health of Kids with Autism 1. Try to give your child control over the tooth brushing routine. Let them choose the toothpaste – try several different flavors and kinds. Some might want a fruity flavor, some are okay with mint. Some might be reactive to certain inactive ingredients in toothpaste like sodium lauryl sulfate. In this case, it is fairly easy to locate a toothpaste brand without it. The toothbrush may be too big for their mouth, or perhaps they can’t grip it well. Try using a visual timer to count down how long they should brush for. 2. For young kids, try not to let them suck on bottles for too long. The sugar in the milk can be damaging to the teeth. This goes for hard candies or anything else with sugar in it. 3. Mouth guards may help. If your child is unsteady on their feet, bangs into things, or has meltdowns that include head banging, you might want to consider getting a mouth guard to protect their teeth, especially their front teeth. If you follow these tips, rest assured that dealing with autism and the dentist will likely become much easier for you.