(Updated April 23, 2013)
Visits to the dentist are pretty tricky for kids with or without sensory issues. They are particularly tricky for kids who may not understand what dental check-ups are for. Some of these tricks may help your dental check-ups go a little more smoothly:
1. Find a dentist in your area that works with kids on the spectrum. The more experience they have, the less you have to explain and they can give you a trick or two!
2. Consider purchasing a dental pick and dental mirror from your local pharmacy to get your child used to the equipment. This was long term planning for us - there was no way a dentist could put those in our child's mouth once upon a time. We practiced with the equipment at home in small increments over a two year period. As of this year, our son is able to tolerate the equipment used by a hygienist in the dental office for a couple of seconds. The same goes for plastic gloves and a dental mask. The more your child can experience at home, the less reluctant he or she will be at the dentist.
3. Take pictures of your dental office, including the dentist (with and without a mask). I always show them to my kiddo before going.
4. Bring your child's toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss with you. The less change, the better!
5. Our dental check-ups used to be only 5 minutes long, and the purpose was to give the dentist a peek into our son's mouth. Our dentist works super well with kids on the spectrum, and is very flexible with respect to where and how the check-ups are done. For example, on a good day, we started in the dental chair with me "brushing" my kiddo's teeth without toothpaste. This was to get him to keep his mouth open long enough for the dentist to peek inside. Then we may have moved to a regular chair in the exam room. The hygienist worked quickly with the light to follow my darting child around. We did this for a couple of years to basically get our son used to the dentist's environment.
6. Consider asking your dentist to clean one tooth at a time on regularly scheduled visits to help your child get used to the feeling of all the equipment. Kathy has a dentist that actually recommended this, asking her to come in with her daughter once a month to clean a couple of teeth. On the first visit, they were able to clean six teeth!
We implemented a similar regime with our dentist in the last six months. We visit the same hygienist every three months and she does what work she can. The goal on these visits is to have our son sit in the chair and tolerate the pick and mirror exam, as well as allow polish and a fluoride treatment for a few teeth. Our visits are scheduled first thing in the morning and we always see the same hygienist. I can't tell you how thrilled I was to learn that she researched autism and sensory issues and had as little equipment and distractions as possible in the cleaning room. I videotape these cleaning sessions and I chat with my son about what will happen while we watch the video (and of course, complement him while we watch him do a great job!) before the next scheduled visit.
7. We cannot do a full cleaning or x-rays at this point. Our kiddo requires anesthetic for all of that. Consequently, our full cleanings are not regular (outside of the "practice cleanings" described above). We wait until there is a bit of work do be done. On average, it seems kids who require anesthetic may go every 2 or 3 years for full cleanings and major dental work. You want to balance the risks of anesthetic with oral hygiene.
8. If your child is motivated by sugary treats, consider having a coating put on your child's molars. The plastic coating works wonders to prevent cavities and this allows you more time and less guilt in using treats for successful therapies. Some dentists may do the coating on adult molars as they come in as well. Prevention is worth its weight in gold when you can't follow a regular full dental cleaning or oral hygiene routine.
9. Patience is key. Some visits are good, others are bad. But the more your child experiences them, the easier they become!
- Naomi
