Local Dentists Trained To Serve Autistic Patients — (2023)

FAQs

How do dentists deal with autistic children? ›

Some children with ASD may benefit from a gradual introduction to each step over multiple successive visits, rather than trying to restrain the child in an effort to accomplish everything at once. Some dental clinics may also offer desensitization visits to prepare for a cleaning or procedure.

With proper practice and preparation, regular dental visits for children with an autism spectrum disorder, sensory issues, or general anxiety, does not have to be a stressful or anxious event. Children's Dental Health welcomes families of autistic children and those with special needs.

For a successful dental visit of autistic child, the whole staff should be caring, empathetic, and aware of how to communicate with these patients. Patients are likely to be disturbed emotionally by surrounding distracting stimuli like sound, light, and taste.

People with autism experience few unusual oral health conditions. Although commonly used medications and damaging oral habits can cause problems, the rates of caries and periodontal disease in people with autism are comparable to those in the general population.

Your rights to health care

Under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) you have rights of access to dentist surgeries. Dentists should make 'reasonable adjustments' to their premises and procedures.

What are your strong points as a dental assistant? ›

Excellent organizational skills

For example: Keeping patient records in the proper location. Maintaining accurate patient information. Ensuring dental instruments and materials are in the right place.

Support your friend if they ask for help. Be sensitive to what they want and need, not just how you think they should improve or behave. Try not to talk over or about them when others are around. Help them work on social skills by trying to engage them in conversations with yourself and others.

Good communication with people with autism is vital. This includes recognising behaviour triggers, using visual prompts and speaking in short, clear sentences. Structure can help people with autism make sense of their day. It is important to emphasise positives when working with people with autism.

Literature suggests that many children with autism may be more at risk of suffering from certain dental conditions as a result of such characteristics. These may include tooth decay, gum disease, oral trauma, tooth wear, acid erosion and dry mouth conditions.

Oral manifestations of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Around 20-25% of individuals with ASD may present bruxism. Some may exhibit self-injurious behaviors such as picking at the gums, biting lips, or creating ulcerations. Some medications may have oral side effects.

Try Floss and Other Toothbrush Varieties

Thick floss works well for teeth that are far apart while thinner flosses work better for teeth that are closer together. If you child struggles with manual floss, you can also try an electric or water flosser.

Suggestions for Reducing Sensitivity During Dental Visits

Allow the child to have a fidget toy that provides "heavy work" during the session. Have the child wear a heavy or tight hat before and during the appointment. Use firm touch whenever touching the child. Verbally warn the child before each thing you do.

Sometimes you need the assistance of your dental professional to desensitize your teeth. Your dentist can apply a thin layer of a fluoride gel or another type of desensitizing agent to strengthen your enamel which will help reduce teeth sensitivity and stop the transmissions to your nerves causing pain.

Your dentist might apply fluoride to the sensitive areas of your teeth to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce pain. He or she might also suggest the use of prescription fluoride at home, applied via a custom tray. Desensitizing or bonding.

What is considered a dental disability? ›

Therefore, an individual should be considered to have a dental disability if orofacial pain, infection, or pathological condition and/or lack of functional dentition affect nutritional intake, growth and development, or participation in life activities.

While dentists, in serving the public, may exercise reasonable discretion in selecting patients for their practices, dentists shall not refuse to accept patients into their practice or deny dental service to patients because of the patient's race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national ...

Any treatment which your dentist provides on the NHS should be of the highest possible standard, and certainly a match for any treatment offered privately. It is against the rules for a dentist to refuse a specific treatment, such as root canal work, on the NHS, but then offer to do it privately.

Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult because there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. Doctors look at the child's developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis.

Because pediatric dentists have training in children's dental treatment, they are better able to calm kids who are scared. A pediatric dentist can advise you on issues such as pacifier use, breastfeeding, and teething. Plus thumb-sucking, sealants, late-emerging teeth, and children's sports mouthguards.

Make toothbrushing fun.

Sing a song while brushing your child's teeth. Or count or say the alphabet while you brush your child's teeth. You can also tell a story, say a nursery rhyme, or make animal sounds while brushing.

A dental assistant is on their feet the whole day. It all adds to physical stress. Moreover, there are several uncomfortable positions in which the practitioner has to stand and use hands to provide treatment. There are days when they hardly get any rest; the patients come in continually, adding to heavy workloads.

What is one of the most important responsibilities of the dental office assistant? ›

One of a dental assistant's most important priorities is providing patient care. Often, patients may feel nervous or uncomfortable about visiting the dental office. Dental assistants play an important role in helping to alleviate any anxiety patients may have.

Certified Dental Assistant. DANB's CDA certification is made up of three exams: Infection Control (ICE), Radiation Health and Safety (RHS), and General Chairside Assisting (GC). You may take the exams separately or together.

The most important qualities a good family dentist should have are being knowledgeable, being an expert in their field, and being trustworthy. A dentist should have excellent communication skills and be compassionate.

5.1 A good team will have: good leadership; clear, shared aims, and work together to achieve them; and different roles and responsibilities, and understand those roles and responsibilities.

Dental Assistant Salary

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Dental Assistants earn an average salary of about $40,000 per year, and an average hourly wage of $19.00 per hour. These rates can vary depending on your employer, experience, and location.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that can be effective in helping children and adults. During CBT sessions, people learn about the connections between feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. This may help to identify the thoughts and feelings that trigger negative behaviors.

Strategies to consider include distraction, diversion, helping the person use calming strategies such as fiddle toys or listening to music, removing any potential triggers, and staying calm yourself.

Many adults with autism live at home or with a friend or family member. When additional support is needed, in-home services may include a companion, homemaking/housekeeping, therapy and other health services, or personal care. Respite Care.

Sensory overload happens when an intense sensory stimulus overwhelms your ability to cope. This can be triggered by a single event, like an unexpected loud noise, or it can build up over time due to the effort it takes to cope with sensory sensitivities in daily life.

What does overstimulation look like in autistic adults? ›

Overstimulation (OS) occurs when there is “too much” of some external stimulus or stimuli for a person's brain to process and integrate effectively. This leads to an unpleasant sensation of being flooded and an impulse to escape the stimulus – or, failing that, to cry or scream or thrash about.

Shutdowns tend to be more discreet than meltdowns, and may sometimes go unnoticed. However, like meltdowns, they are a person's response to reaching crisis point. Sometimes, meltdowns can turn into shutdowns.

Examples of reasonable accommodations include providing written instructions, allowing the use of headphones to block office noise, a modified training program, flexible scheduling, etc.

Although anaesthesia and sedation do not present a problem for most children with ASD, unpredictable regression in skills and behaviour is noted in a small number of patients after general anaesthesia. It may be appropriate therefore to adopt an anaesthetic technique suitable for patients with mitochondrial disease.

Develop a Reward System and Routine

Parents can also turn toothbrushing into a game called “Your Turn, My Turn” to help guide the child through each step. Finally, consider using verbal praise or a rewards system (such as a rewards jar) to reinforce positive behavior once toothbrushing is complete.

Strategies to consider include distraction, diversion, helping the person use calming strategies such as fiddle toys or listening to music, removing any potential triggers, and staying calm yourself.

Give your child space, don't touch them, and keep other people away. Turn down lights and keep things quiet, or give your child noise-cancelling headphones. Let one person speak to your child, but don't say too much. Stay calm and wait.

What is the best anesthesia for autism? ›

Sevoflurane is an inhaled general anesthetic. It is a highly fluorinated methyl isopropyl. This is often a well-tolerated general anesthetic for kids with autism. Because many anesthesiologists like to give Nitrous Oxide before administering Sevoflurane, please see the above information about Nitrous Oxide.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous, behaviorally defined, neurodevelopmental disorder that has been modeled as a brain-based disease. The behavioral and cognitive features of ASD are associated with pervasive atypicalities in the central nervous system (CNS).

Advanced parental age at time of conception. Prenatal exposure to air pollution or certain pesticides. Maternal obesity, diabetes, or immune system disorders. Extreme prematurity or very low birth weight.

Unflavored Toothpaste Oranurse – Oranurse is an unflavored toothpaste that's specially formulated for autistic children who have a problem with taste. This non-foaming toothpaste has the daily recommended fluoride and does not contain any traces of sodium lauryl sulfate.

Personal hygiene is an important part of keeping healthy.

Developing self-care skills such as washing and personal hygiene can sometimes be an issue for autistic people. Sensory differences, such as a heightened sense of smell or touch, can make washing an uncomfortable experience.

By rubbing the brush across the skin, the pressure input targets touch receptors and helps a child organize his/her central nervous system. This can calm down any over-active receptors that are misfiring and help bring a child's level of alertness to a normal (calm) level.