For nearly every child, the first dental visit can feel scary. New people, sights, sounds and smells can be overwhelming for anyone. For children with autism, who often experience sensory input more intensely, this first dental visit can be even harder. Fortunately, there are ways to make it easier for both you and your child. With over 17 years of dental experience, I’ve worked with countless children with autism to help make their first dental experience a positive one. I’ve put together my top tips to help you do the same with your child.
Dr Greg Grillo (dentably.com)
Finding the Right Dentist for Your Child
The first step in a successful dental experience is finding the right dentist. The right dentist can make the experience much easier, and can share useful ideas on how to make it more comfortable for your child.
There are plenty of ways to find a dentist, such as your national dental association (for example, the American Dental Association, or the Australian Dental Association in Australia) or your insurance provider. Doing a bit of research online also helps, as many dentists advertise their experience in working with children with special needs.
Once you’ve found a possible dentist, don’t be afraid to ask them questions. Their experience working with children who have additional needs, or the kinds of accommodations they can make, are great places to start. A good dentist will be happy to answer, and their answers will help you decide whether they are a good fit for you and your child.
How to Prepare for the Visit
Once you’ve found a dentist, it’s important to prepare for the visit. The key is to understand your child and which situations make them uncomfortable, so you can plan for them. Every child is different, and you as the parent are in the best position to know what might overwhelm them.
For example, if bright lights are hard for your child, sunglasses can help. If loud noises are a problem, earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can soften the sound of the dental tools.
You can also go over what will happen at home and practice. Visual aids such as videos, pictures or a simple social story can set the scene and give your child a preview of what’s to come. Fear of the unknown is often a big cause of nerves on the day, so introducing parts of a dental appointment at home (sitting in a reclining chair, opening wide, counting teeth with a toothbrush) can make the day itself easier.
You might also consider a practice or familiarization appointment. This is a visit where you and your child meet the dentist and the other people in the clinic. You talk about the process, but your child doesn’t have any treatment. It’s a gentle way to introduce an unfamiliar environment.
It also helps prevent the overload of meeting lots of new people at once. Your child will see many new faces on the day of their appointment, which can be uncomfortable for a lot of children. A familiarization visit lets them meet these people without the added pressure of dental work.
Lastly, always raise any concerns with your dentist. They can help set up any accommodations you need, such as the first appointment of the day (less waiting), a quieter room or dimmed lights. With their experience, they may also have suggestions to help things go smoothly, so don’t hesitate to ask. They are there to help you and your child.
What to Do During the Visit
During the visit, keep all of the above in mind and stick to your plan. If your child becomes distressed, it’s okay to take a break, rethink and talk with your dentist. Their distress is telling you something isn’t working for them right now. This is also a good time to use any calming strategies that help your child.
It’s also important to realize that dental care isn’t one and done, it’s lifelong. That’s why it’s so important to start with a good dentist. You’ll work with them for many years, which can benefit your child too, as seeing a familiar face at each check-up can be calming. If the first appointment doesn’t go well, that’s okay. Think about what happened and work with your dentist so each appointment goes a little better than the last.
Going to the dentist can be a hard experience for children with autism, but it is an important one. Starting with a good dentist and learning what helps your child is the key to making their first experience a positive one. From there, keep learning and adjusting, and you’ll build a lifelong habit of good dental care for your child.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
