In the Know for you to Know

Going to the Dentist is hard. For parents whose child has Autism this can be especially challenging and intimidating.

Dental care and oral hygiene routines at home may go very slowly, can be sporadic or non-existent.

Getting to know your child, your concerns, looking and listening to their cues, and accommodating to their needs makes you and your child feel comfortable and cared for. Over time with compassion, lot’s of patience and determination at home and in the pediatric dental office achieving positive results is possible and will bring invaluable rewards for your child and for you.

But for now, how do you start on the path to achieve a successful dental visit, or just brush their teeth?

Why Is Dentistry So Hard For Children With Autism?

Autism is individual and it’s complex. Your child may have medical concerns that your family is dealing with and need to be taken into consideration.

Some children are distant and detached from people and their surroundings, and may or may not be verbal. Other children may have repetitive routines and behaviors, unpredictable body movements, or self-injurious behaviors. There are some children who have sensory, taste and texture sensitivities. Each of these behaviors can complicate dental care and establishing oral hygiene routines.

Preparing Your Child For A Successful Dental Checkup

Before your child’s dental checkup there are several things you can do to help prepare them. These small steps help set the stage for a positive experience by using what we call desensitization.

Desensitization is about familiarity and routine. This helps prepare them for the sights and sounds they’ll experience during a dental visit.

Having a consistent dental routine at home is very helpful. While this may not always mean that tooth brushing and flossing is actually done, it’s the repetition and patience that goes a long way.

Make Your Child’s Dental Checkup As Young As Possible

Did you know that children should have their 1st dental checkup by the age of 1?

This is especially important for children with autism since they are at a high risk of developing cavities.

A few factors that can increase your child’s level of risk for cavities are the amount of starches, carbohydrates and sugars in their diet, as well as their oral hygiene routine at home.

Seeing your child at this young age allows for desensitization at an age when they’re likely to be less fearful and more cooperative. The younger you bring your child to the dentist, the easier the checkup will be for both of you.

Tips To Prepare Your Child For Their Dental Visit

• Call the office ahead of your visit to discuss your child’s medical history, needs and preferences. Ask if your child can tour the office before your appointment.
• While you’re on the phone or during the tour, ask if the office has or if you can bring noise-canceling headphones, a weighted blanket, or sunglasses, You can also ask if your child can listen to music or watch a movie. It’s okay to ask if it would be possible to turn off the fluorescent ceiling lights in the treatment room, and/or have limited talking during the appointment. If your child has self-soothing or a repetitive routine when they’re in a new environment remember to let them know.
• Remember your child’s routine and consider the time of day you’re scheduling their appointment. You may want to schedule your child’s checkup when the office is less busy. You may also want to consider if there are certain times of day that your child tends to feel more comfortable or relaxed, like after lunch or after their nap. Try to schedule their appointment around this time. Fitting their appointment within their daily routine is key to having a successful, stress free dental visit.
• Some children with Autism may benefit from a gradual introduction to each step over multiple successive visits, rather than trying to accomplish everything at once. You can also ask the office if they offer introduction or desensitization visits to help prepare your child for their first visit, their cleaning appointment or their dental procedure.
• Tell your child ahead of time they are going to the dentist and bring their Tablet (or iPad) with you.
• Read a social story about going to the dentist
• Read a book about going to the dentist. Some of our favorite books are —Just Going To The Dentist by Mercer Mayer, The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist, Dentist Trip (Peppa Pig), Dora Goes To The Dentist
• Role play a dentist visit at home – You can put on disposable gloves, let your child touch them when they’re on your hands so they can feel the texture of the gloves, and practice opening wide by saying “Cheese”, looking in their mouth and counting their teeth. You can also do this with their toys.
• Toothbrushing and flossing every day. Make a routine and stay with it (successful or not stay with it). Be your child’s role model. Repetition builds familiarity as well as daily habits.
• Encourage your child and do something fun as a reward for success at the end of the visit. (just not sweets or candy). This gives them positive reinforcement and associates the visit with something happy to look forward to.
• Always be positive when talking about the dentist and their upcoming appointment.

What To Expect At Your Child’s Dental Visit

Your child’s dental visit isn’t only about teeth. It’s about respecting their boundaries and proceeding with what they’re comfortable doing.

Sometimes it’s only being able to count their teeth, take x-rays, or brush their teeth. These are all small steps in the right direction. It’s important to celebrate their small victories because they add up and help your child feel more accustomed to visiting the dentist.

For each step of their visit we use the technique known as ‘Tell, Show, Do”.

What Is Tell, Show, Do?

Tell, Show, Do is a 3 step method where we:

1. Tell your child what we’re going to do. First is Tell where we explain in age appropriate language what we’re going to do.
2. Show them what we’re doing to do.Second, we Show them what we’re doing to do to ease anxiety and prepare them for what comes next.
3. Do what we said we’re going to do. Third, we gently Do the recently demonstrated procedure.

What To Remember

Pediatric dental office’s have all the bells and whistles for making going to the dentist fun. However they still have bright lights, loud noises and unfamiliar people, sights, smells and tastes.

Dental visits and procedures can be difficult for children with Autism who are sensitive to strong smells, tastes, and textures, or do not tolerate people or objects near their ears, face and mouth.

By starting your child’s dental visits as young as possible and incorporating home routines, desensitization and Tell, Show, Do you’re on your way to successful dental visits for your child.

Does your child have Autism? What are your dental obstacles? Do you have dental visit challenges? What tips do you have to share for dental visits? Tell us, We’d really like to know! Send us an email at kidstoothhotline@proton.me Like Us on Facebook

More tips? We have lots. We’re here just for kids!