Helping autistic children manage and maintain their dental health is a challenge that is gradually being overcome. The BBC reports that nearly one in four autistic paediatric patients have tooth decay by the time they are five years old, and are less likely to visit the dental practice despite being twice as likely to need dental treatment under general anaesthetic compared to their peers.
The National Autistic Society highlights the three obstacles that make a trip to the dentist and daily toothbrushing distressing for autistic children:
A recent innovation saw dental experts collaborate with the parents of autistic children, creating a website to better understand these challenges. Led by academics at the University of Leeds School of Dentistry, the process revealed how hard it was for parents to protect the oral health of their children, and how devastating it is to be told that teeth need removing as a consequence.
The resulting website, toothPASTE, features advice specifically for how autistic children can improve their oral health. From videos to downloadable resources and a forum for parents to share experiences and tips, it helps meet the unique challenges of raising autistic children.
Dr Amrit Chauhan, one of the content designers for the website, told the BBC, “we’re hearing time and time again that families are really struggling and that’s why we developed the website – to help families of young autistic children feel confident in looking after their children’s teeth.”
The growing awareness on how to support autistic children and the ways to make their patient journey more comfortable is a watershed moment for how excellent care can be delivered. Professor Peter Day, a dentist who led the project, offered some suggestions, such as parents taking photos of problematic teeth at home before visiting the practice, or waiting in the car rather than in the dental practice waiting room to make the experience more comfortable.
What is essential to note is that every patient is different. The width of the autistic spectrum means that every patient must have a tailored experience, be that for trips to the dentist or for daily toothbrushing. What can be focused on is building trust, reducing anxiety and maintaining clear communication channels between dentist, parent and child. This helps ensure long-lasting oral hygiene outcomes.
>Since you’re here, why not read about the positive associations between filled teeth and all-cause mortality?
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