Making a difference in the oral health of a person with autism may go slowly at first, but determination can bring positive results and invaluable rewards.
Providing oral care to people with autism requires adaptation of the skills you use every day. In fact, most people with mild or moderate forms of autism can be treated successfully in the general practice setting.
A booklet from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research will help you make a difference in the lives of people who need professional oral care. Autism is a complex developmental disability that impairs communication and social, behavioral, and intellectual functioning. Some people with the disorder appear distant, aloof, or detached from other people or from their surroundings. Others do not react appropriately to common verbal and social cues, such as a parent’s tone of voice or smile. Obsessive routines, repetitive behaviors, unpredictable body movements, and self-injurious behavior may all be symptoms that complicate dental care.
Autism varies widely in symptoms and severity, and some people have coexisting conditions such as intellectual disability or epilepsy. They can be among the most challenging of patients, but following the suggestions in the booklet can help make their dental treatment successful.
The booklet provides a review of oral health problems in autism and strategies for care, including:
- Damaging oral habits
- Dental caries
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth eruption
- Trauma and injury