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Oral Healthcare for CHILDREN WITH AUTISM
• Offer parents and children the
• Talk calmly in direct, short phrases.
external world and at the same time
opportunity to tour your dental office,
Watch what you say since children
reflects what is happening deep
so that they may ask questions, touch
with autism often take everything you
inside the body.
equipment and get used to the place.
say literally. Avoid words or phrases
All forms of potential diseases that can
Allow children to bring comfort items,
with double meanings.
affect the general health of people, such
such as a blanket or a favorite toy. • Children with autism need sameness and continuity in their environment. A gradual and slow exposure to the
• Once the patient is seated, begin a
as heart disease and cancer, can be linked
cursory examination using only your
to the condition of the mouth. People
fingers. Keep the light out of their eyes.
with poor oral health tend to have poor
• Next, use a toothbrush or possibly a
overall health. More information is needed
dental office and staff is therefore
dental mirror to gain access to
to improve America’s oral health and
recommended.
the mouth.
eliminate health disparities. We do not have
• Solicit suggestions from the parent or caregiver on how best to deal with the child.
• Praise and reinforce good behavior. Ignore poor behavior. • Invite the parent or caregiver to hold
• Children with autism are easily overwhelmed by sensory overload, such as loud noises, sudden movement and things that are felt. This can cause “stimming” (flapping of arms, rocking, screaming, etc.). • Make the first appointment short and positive. • Approach the child in a quiet, non-threatening manner. Don’t crowd the child.
the child’s hand during the dental examination. • Some children are calmed by moderate
providing care. Explain the procedure before it occurs. Show the instruments that you will use. Provide frequent praise for acceptable behavior. • Invite the child to sit alone in the dental chair to become familiar with the treatment setting. • Children with autism want to know
practices and care for the U.S. population as a whole and its diverse segments, including racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities such as autism, the very young and the elderly. We all are aware of the difficulty and expense involved
pressure, such as a papoose board
in locating and getting to a dentist or
to wrap the child in. On the other
professional who is equipped to treat
hand, “light” touch (such as air from
people with disabilities (for resources, visit
the dental air syringe) can agitate
www.autismsource.org). Overall, access
them. You may be more likely to have
to appropriate dental care for people with
problems wrapping a blood pressure
special needs is poor, to say the least.
cuff around the arm than by inflating it.
We all know that early detection and
• Some children may need sedation
• Use a “tell-show-do” approach to
adequate data on health, disease, and health
treatment of diseases is extremely
or general anesthesia so that dental
important for good health outcomes. One
treatment can be accomplished.
of the major ways to promote health and
Good Oral Health Leads to Improved Overall Health As I mentioned earlier, proper oral healthcare plays a vital part in maintaining general good healthcare. A number of years ago, the Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. David Satcher (2000), wrote an
what’s going to happen next. Explain
article titled “The Mouth is the Gateway to
what you’re doing so it makes sense to
Good Health.” In it, he said the following:
them. Explain every treatment before
The mouth is a readily accessible and
it happens.
visible part of the body and provides
wellness is through early prevention of disease, including dental/oral problems. As I discussed briefly at the beginning of this article, dental disease can play a major role in contributing to general disease, for everyone. People with autism and other disabilities are particularly at risk. I believe we should consider promoting a National Oral Health Plan, as was discussed a number of years ago by then Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher.
health-care providers and individuals
The Twinbrush
why you need to touch them, especially
with a window on their general health
On another note, I have been working for
when using dental or medical
status. As the gateway of the body,
some time in trying to get people to practice
equipment.
the mouth senses and responds to the
prevention of dental disease. I recently was
• Always tell the child where and
52 Autism Advocate
• SECOND EDITION 2010