Post by lozgordon45 on Sept 15, 2023 5:33:20 GMT
Patients with ASD can find trips to the dentist particularly challenging, so treatment is often unsuccessful. Challenges include crowded waiting rooms, new staff, feelings of invasion of personal space, and new smells, tastes and sounds.
Autistic patients may not understand the benefits of having regular dental check-ups. Autistic people are more likely to have hypersensitivity and find it harder to process new sensations. Mouths are a very sensitive area which means that cold metal dental instruments may feel painful, mouthwash may taste too strong, and the noise of instruments may be too powerful. Appointments require dental staff to get close to patients which can cause autistic patients to feel distressed.
In addition, children with ASD generally have poor tongue coordination and therefore prefer soft, sweetened food that they like to hold in their mouths for longer periods of time instead of swallowing, therefore increasing their caries risk. This combined with difficulties when brushing, lack of coordination and sensitivity to taste and smells, means that autistic children may be more likely to require dental treatment for decay.
As part of my MSc Public Health, I developed a health communication resource that entailed using individually tailored flashcards as a form of communication with autistic children. Community Dental Services (CDS) across the country already use such resources such as these and non-verbal communication such as Makaton sign language, but their use needs to be generalised.
The use of visual aids such as social stories and flashcards helps autistic patients to understand what is happening in various situations and helps them learn what will happen in these situations and social behaviour. Social situations can be used to describe any situation and can be adapted to make them specific to the patient.
In addition to social stories, there are many other ways in which we can all help, as follows.
Consider including ASD in medical history forms. Whilst patients are not required to inform dental professionals of their diagnosis, they may feel more at ease disclosing information if it is already included as part of a form if given the chance.
Including detailed information and visual aids such as photographs on your website may help put autistic patients at ease and allow them to familiarise themselves with the practice before attending. Allow the patient to familiarise themselves with the practice and staff. Encourage them to visit beforehand and meet staff where possible. If appropriate and the patient has disclosed a diagnosis, it may be beneficial to speak to the family of the patient to see if there are any adaptations that could be made to help create as little distress as possible when visiting the dentist.
Arrange appointments at quieter times or extend appointment times if necessary. Allowing patients to wait in the car may also help reduce anxiety.
Keep appointments short and make them adaptable. Don't try and keep to a strict appointment outcome if things start to go wrong, this will only fuel a sense of defeat. Instead, keep sessions brief and take small positive steps. Progress is still progress, no matter how long it takes.
Think outside the box to find new ways to communicate with the patient to make them aware they are in control. The use of flashcards, Makaton sign language, whiteboards and story books are all beneficial. For younger children, establish a tell, show, do technique and use a puppet where needed.
Autistic patients can take things literally. Ensure you speak clearly and say exactly what you mean. Using humour or metaphors can be confusing.
Try to maintain the same dental team as much as possible. Once established, encourage the patient to engage with other members of staff but try to maintain continuity where possible.5 It is also important to recognise when a referral may be necessary. Ensure patients and family members are aware of alternative services as treatments such as Community Dental Services.
Autistic patients can take things literally. Ensure you speak clearly and say exactly what you mean. Using humour or metaphors can be confusing.
Adapt products where possible, for example, non-flavoured toothpaste, different styles/bristle textured toothbrushes, try different flavoured fluoride varnishes.
Each person is as individual as the next, and autistic patients are no different. Aside from our clinical skills, it is important that dental professionals are adaptable and compassionate. If successful, autistic patients will receive the level of care they deserve, gain trust in dental professionals whilst also creating job satisfaction all round.
For more information, visit the National Autistic Society's website.
poppyirvine.
Autistic patients may not understand the benefits of having regular dental check-ups. Autistic people are more likely to have hypersensitivity and find it harder to process new sensations. Mouths are a very sensitive area which means that cold metal dental instruments may feel painful, mouthwash may taste too strong, and the noise of instruments may be too powerful. Appointments require dental staff to get close to patients which can cause autistic patients to feel distressed.
In addition, children with ASD generally have poor tongue coordination and therefore prefer soft, sweetened food that they like to hold in their mouths for longer periods of time instead of swallowing, therefore increasing their caries risk. This combined with difficulties when brushing, lack of coordination and sensitivity to taste and smells, means that autistic children may be more likely to require dental treatment for decay.
As part of my MSc Public Health, I developed a health communication resource that entailed using individually tailored flashcards as a form of communication with autistic children. Community Dental Services (CDS) across the country already use such resources such as these and non-verbal communication such as Makaton sign language, but their use needs to be generalised.
The use of visual aids such as social stories and flashcards helps autistic patients to understand what is happening in various situations and helps them learn what will happen in these situations and social behaviour. Social situations can be used to describe any situation and can be adapted to make them specific to the patient.
In addition to social stories, there are many other ways in which we can all help, as follows.
Consider including ASD in medical history forms. Whilst patients are not required to inform dental professionals of their diagnosis, they may feel more at ease disclosing information if it is already included as part of a form if given the chance.
Including detailed information and visual aids such as photographs on your website may help put autistic patients at ease and allow them to familiarise themselves with the practice before attending. Allow the patient to familiarise themselves with the practice and staff. Encourage them to visit beforehand and meet staff where possible. If appropriate and the patient has disclosed a diagnosis, it may be beneficial to speak to the family of the patient to see if there are any adaptations that could be made to help create as little distress as possible when visiting the dentist.
Arrange appointments at quieter times or extend appointment times if necessary. Allowing patients to wait in the car may also help reduce anxiety.
Keep appointments short and make them adaptable. Don't try and keep to a strict appointment outcome if things start to go wrong, this will only fuel a sense of defeat. Instead, keep sessions brief and take small positive steps. Progress is still progress, no matter how long it takes.
Think outside the box to find new ways to communicate with the patient to make them aware they are in control. The use of flashcards, Makaton sign language, whiteboards and story books are all beneficial. For younger children, establish a tell, show, do technique and use a puppet where needed.
Autistic patients can take things literally. Ensure you speak clearly and say exactly what you mean. Using humour or metaphors can be confusing.
Try to maintain the same dental team as much as possible. Once established, encourage the patient to engage with other members of staff but try to maintain continuity where possible.5 It is also important to recognise when a referral may be necessary. Ensure patients and family members are aware of alternative services as treatments such as Community Dental Services.
Autistic patients can take things literally. Ensure you speak clearly and say exactly what you mean. Using humour or metaphors can be confusing.
Adapt products where possible, for example, non-flavoured toothpaste, different styles/bristle textured toothbrushes, try different flavoured fluoride varnishes.
Each person is as individual as the next, and autistic patients are no different. Aside from our clinical skills, it is important that dental professionals are adaptable and compassionate. If successful, autistic patients will receive the level of care they deserve, gain trust in dental professionals whilst also creating job satisfaction all round.
For more information, visit the National Autistic Society's website.
poppyirvine.