Community Health. Preparing your child for their dental visit Autism & dentistry. Barnsley, Doncaster & Rotherham Community Dental Service

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1 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Preparing your child for their dental visit Autism & dentistry Barnsley, Doncaster & Rotherham Community Dental Service Community Health

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3 Introduction Dental visits are important for all children but unfortunately some children can find a visit to the dentist a bit daunting. Children on the autistic spectrum are likely to find dental visits more of a challenge than other children as they may not cope as well with new people, situations and/or surroundings. Children on the autistic spectrum may also have difficulty expressing when they are in pain. Ideally all children should start seeing the dentist soon after their first teeth come through. Like most things, prevention is better than cure and we hope to try and help your child become more used to the dental environment by regular visits. At the same time we will be able to provide preventive advice and treatment to minimise any dental problems. This leaflet will try to answer the questions frequently asked by carers of autistic children and help you to prepare your child for their first dental visit. 3

4 Frequently asked questions How will my child cope in their new surroundings at their first dental visit? We are used to seeing children with special needs and appreciate that behaviour can change from day to day. We have lots of different ways to help your child cope with their new surroundings. We also allow more time to see your child than a general practice dentist might do. Many children on the autistic spectrum benefit from picture cards and routines. Here are some pictures that you can show your child of a dental clinic and equipment before their appointment. If you would like specific pictures of the clinic that you will be attending prior to your visit, please contact us. Surgery 4

5 What will happen at my child s first visit to the clinic? At your child s first visit we will have a chat with you and your child so that we can get to know you both a little better and decide on what treatment (if any) is needed. We will use a dental mirror, like the one in the picture below, to look at your child s teeth. If you want to have a trial run pretending to be at the dentist before your child s appointment then you could use a disposable mirror at home. These mirrors can be bought at most large chemists. Dentist s mirror 5

6 We will also use a special light so that we can see all the teeth really well. We may also dry the teeth so that we can see them better using a special air spray. 6

7 I don t think my child will be able to cope with dental treatment in the usual way, so what will happen if they need any fillings or extractions? Every child is of course different, but where possible we will try to carry out your child s treatment under local anaesthetic (an injection) and/or sedation (laughing gas). For some children, however, it is not possible to carry out high quality dental care using these methods and so a general anaesthetic (going to sleep) might be needed to allow the treatment to be carried out. Is my child more at risk from dental decay than other children? Children on the autistic spectrum often have a number of health/behaviour issues that are being managed at different clinics and so dental care might not be a priority. Many parents/carers also worry about how their child might react to a visit to the dentist. Unfortunately if a child is not seen on a regular basis then tooth decay might only be noticed when it is more advanced. This might present as pain and/or swelling inside or outside the mouth. Many autistic children also have difficulty expressing pain and so this might delay treatment being sought. 7

8 Often medication used in autism can contain sugars and/or can cause a dry mouth, both of which can increase the risk of decay. If your child is on prescribed medication it may be worth asking your doctor if there is a sugar free version. Autistic children can often be very particular about what food they eat and when they eat it. This can lead to more grazing (frequent small snacks rather than regular larger meals), which will increase the incidence of tooth decay. Changing this routine can be difficult, particularly if you have got into the habit of trying to control or reward your child s behaviour with sweets. Your dentist can try to help you find possible alternatives. Some autistic children are very sensitive about textures, tastes and sensations inside the mouth (oral hypersensitivity). This can mean that they do not like the sensation of brushing or the noise of an electric brush. For other children the taste of the toothpaste may be an issue. All of this can make toothbrushing more difficult and increase the risk of decay. Your dentist will be able to offer you some suggestions to make toothbrushing easier for your child. 8

9 What preventive treatments might you be able to offer my child? Preventing decay is easier then treating decay. For children on the autistic spectrum prevention is particularly important as some children may find dental treatment difficult to cope with. Depending on your child s individual needs we will have a close look at your child s diet and toothbrushing and see if we can offer any help with these. We will also be able to advise you about the right type of toothpaste your child should use. To help prevent decay we will offer to paint fluoride varnish onto to your child s teeth at least twice a year. Fissure sealants (plastic coatings) can also be placed on the back teeth to help protect them. Further information If we can be of any further help or there are any other issues you wish to discuss prior to your child s visit, please telephone the clinic on the number on your appointment card. 9

10 We value your comments If you have any comments or concerns about the care we have provided, please let us know, or, alternatively, you can write to: Patient Services The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust Rotherham Hospital Moorgate Road Oakwood Rotherham S60 2UD Telephone If you require this document in another language, large print, braille or audio version, please contact Patient Information on Produced by The Department of Dentistry October Revision due October Version: 1.0 The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust All rights reserved.

11 How to contact us Rotherham Community Dental Clinic Greasbrough Road Rotherham S60 1RY Telephone

12 Sustainable Forests / Low chlorine LS 38 10/11 V1 WFO Dentistry Rotherham Hospital Moorgate Road Oakwood Rotherham S60 2UD Telephone