Post by lozgordon45 on Jun 15, 2023 5:53:20 GMT
Poor oral health is not always brought on or indicated through patients with autism, but proper oral health can be a problem in some cases. Some dental problems that are seen in patients can be purely genetic, but often times it’s not chalked up all that easily.
Patients sometimes struggle with oral hygiene, both the dentist and at home, so the proper amount of care can be difficult. For example, periodontal disease and cavities are the two most common dental problems that are often seen.
Listed below are other examples of common dental problems that patients with autism are more prone to:
Gingival overgrowth
Early and late tooth decay
Severe, early periodontal gum disease
The habit of constantly grinding their teeth, which is also known as “bruxism”
Tooth anomalies that are related to the size, shape, and the number of teeth present
Accelerated, inconsistent, and/or delayed eruption of one or more teeth
Pits, discoloration, lines, and other developmental defects that are seen in teeth
Depending on how severe the autism is, a lot of patients will have difficulty communicating their pain. This results in dental health issues becoming so advanced that general anesthesia is not just required to help them relax, but is necessary due to the pain and procedure they will need. Some dental issues may require oral surgery, Emergency Dentists USA has a directory with a list of oral surgeons to find the best one for your child’s needs.
“Patients affected significantly with autism or other conditions that cause the patient to have difficulty with cooperation during dental treatment are many times better served by seeing a Pediatric Dentist. Pediatric Dentists have received additional training beyond dental school and have the experience to help patients with special needs receive necessary dental treatment while minimizing fear. They also have the ability to use sedation and even perform treatment in a hospital setting if needed.”
What You And Your Dentist Can Do Together
Patients with autism, especially children, have extreme sensory and oral motor integration issues, and the dentist can be a very frightful experience. All of the tools, noise, and people can easily stress a patient out and make them impossible to work on, and a lot of dentists will suggest a sedative right away.
A lot of patients with autism have a general fear of the dentist because it overrides their senses and is a lot for them to process in such a short time. Finding a dentist who knows and understands their fears by working with multiple special needs patients previously, is the best way to help them slowly overcome their fear.
Talk to Prospective Dentists About Your Concerns
Talking to prospective dentists is the best thing you can do to make the visit easier for someone who has autism. A well trained and comfortable dentist makes the process easier for everyone and is better able to anticipate and understand the needs of these patients.
This is not always easy though, as studies show upwards of 60% of dentists do not feel prepared to treat patients with additional needs. This is a staggering amount, and shows that not all dentists will be a good fit for a child with autism. The same study showed that the quality of education was a large factor in preparedness during the dentist’s career.
Thankfully, many dental programs have begun providing additional training materials about dealing with special needs patients. This includes the rise of internet programs, which are helping to change the perception on a wide range of needs including those of patients with autism. This should hopefully make a wider range of dentists more comfortable practicing on those who have them.
How to Help at the Dentist
There are ways you can help your loved one feel safe and secure while at the dentist. For example, if you are a parent of a young child who has autism, do not bring them to multiple offices. Instead, find one dentist that is understanding and will work with you and your child to keep their oral health in top shape. This eliminates the anxiety that they would have by going to different places each time.
Making the Necessary Preparations Before the Visit
For children and adults alike, you can also take the necessary steps to prepare them for their visit. Take them for a tour by showing them the website, telling them about the dentist they will be seeing. You can also tell them about your experiences at the dentist, even if it’s not the same one, and say that you feel much better after you went.
livingautism.com
Patients sometimes struggle with oral hygiene, both the dentist and at home, so the proper amount of care can be difficult. For example, periodontal disease and cavities are the two most common dental problems that are often seen.
Listed below are other examples of common dental problems that patients with autism are more prone to:
Gingival overgrowth
Early and late tooth decay
Severe, early periodontal gum disease
The habit of constantly grinding their teeth, which is also known as “bruxism”
Tooth anomalies that are related to the size, shape, and the number of teeth present
Accelerated, inconsistent, and/or delayed eruption of one or more teeth
Pits, discoloration, lines, and other developmental defects that are seen in teeth
Depending on how severe the autism is, a lot of patients will have difficulty communicating their pain. This results in dental health issues becoming so advanced that general anesthesia is not just required to help them relax, but is necessary due to the pain and procedure they will need. Some dental issues may require oral surgery, Emergency Dentists USA has a directory with a list of oral surgeons to find the best one for your child’s needs.
“Patients affected significantly with autism or other conditions that cause the patient to have difficulty with cooperation during dental treatment are many times better served by seeing a Pediatric Dentist. Pediatric Dentists have received additional training beyond dental school and have the experience to help patients with special needs receive necessary dental treatment while minimizing fear. They also have the ability to use sedation and even perform treatment in a hospital setting if needed.”
What You And Your Dentist Can Do Together
Patients with autism, especially children, have extreme sensory and oral motor integration issues, and the dentist can be a very frightful experience. All of the tools, noise, and people can easily stress a patient out and make them impossible to work on, and a lot of dentists will suggest a sedative right away.
A lot of patients with autism have a general fear of the dentist because it overrides their senses and is a lot for them to process in such a short time. Finding a dentist who knows and understands their fears by working with multiple special needs patients previously, is the best way to help them slowly overcome their fear.
Talk to Prospective Dentists About Your Concerns
Talking to prospective dentists is the best thing you can do to make the visit easier for someone who has autism. A well trained and comfortable dentist makes the process easier for everyone and is better able to anticipate and understand the needs of these patients.
This is not always easy though, as studies show upwards of 60% of dentists do not feel prepared to treat patients with additional needs. This is a staggering amount, and shows that not all dentists will be a good fit for a child with autism. The same study showed that the quality of education was a large factor in preparedness during the dentist’s career.
Thankfully, many dental programs have begun providing additional training materials about dealing with special needs patients. This includes the rise of internet programs, which are helping to change the perception on a wide range of needs including those of patients with autism. This should hopefully make a wider range of dentists more comfortable practicing on those who have them.
How to Help at the Dentist
There are ways you can help your loved one feel safe and secure while at the dentist. For example, if you are a parent of a young child who has autism, do not bring them to multiple offices. Instead, find one dentist that is understanding and will work with you and your child to keep their oral health in top shape. This eliminates the anxiety that they would have by going to different places each time.
Making the Necessary Preparations Before the Visit
For children and adults alike, you can also take the necessary steps to prepare them for their visit. Take them for a tour by showing them the website, telling them about the dentist they will be seeing. You can also tell them about your experiences at the dentist, even if it’s not the same one, and say that you feel much better after you went.
livingautism.com