Welcome to my site! My name is Verity. I work as a receptionist in a dentist office. Every day for the past 20 years, I have come in to the office, worked on paperwork, and greeted patients. I love my job, because it has helped me meet a lot of really wonderful people. I have seen families grow up! But an added benefit from my job is that I have also picked up some small information about dentistry. I'm not one of the dentists, but I do know quite a bit about simple procedures and basic dental hygiene. Hopefully this blog can teach you something, but remember to always consult with your actual dentist for real professional advice!
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Tips For Helping Your Autistic Child With Dental Appointments
Eleanor Crawford
Dental appointments can be overwhelming for children with autism. The visit can disrupt their sensory reactions as well as affect issues with hearing and anxiety. For this reason, many parents may be leery of taking their child to the dentist at all. However, proper dental hygiene and preventative care is vital for children in order to help them set proper oral routines early and avoid issues in the future. If you are facing this problem with your autistic child, here are some tips that may help them cope with going to your family dentist.
Fidget Toys
Make sure your child has fidget toys with them. These toys should not be something that is too big or would get in the way during the cleaning. Try to find fidget toys that are dental related. You may find things like toothpaste fidget toys, toothbrush toys, or some other related fidget. Other ideas are a calming bottle that can be made at home or purchased from specialty shops online. Make sure to ask your dentist as well. Some dentists are moving to a more autistic friendly environment and may have fidget toys available for the children to use and keep them calm.
Tooth Tablets
One way many parents help their child get ready for the dentist is to practice for the tooth cleaning. A way to do this is with tooth brushing tablets. These tablets may be fruit flavored and are the size of a chewable tablet your child may already be used to. Have your child chew on the tablet and then look in the mirror. When the tablet is chewed it covers their teeth in a bright color. They practice brushing by brushing off the color. This activity is fun for children and can be incorporated into their appointment with most family dentists.
Break Up the Appointment
If your child will be in the dentist chair for more than half an hour, you may want to consider having the appointment broken up into two or more appointments. For example, if they are having a cleaning and x-rays you may want to have the x-rays done then the cleaning done later in the day or the week. You may also want to consider this option if your child needs to have cavities filled or other similar procedures that may overwhelm their sensory reactions.
When you are ready to take your autistic child to the dentist, make sure to discuss the visit with your family dentist first. They may offer special sensory rooms or options that can make the appointment even easier on your child. If you have any other questions related to this type of appointment, discuss your concerns with a dentist or dental assistant.
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