Can You Brush My Teeth? - An Autistic Child

Objectives: Emphasizing over the oral health of an Autistic Child.
Methods: A search was performed through various search engines showing oral problems such as bruxism, self-injury creating ulcerations, caries-similar to general population etc. in an autistic patient. Furthermore, it has been reported that autistic child seeks medical consultation going in severity of the symptoms such as regurgitation. Good oral health care for individuals on the autism spectrum requires specialized knowledge, increased awareness, and in many cases, effective support strategies tailored to the individual.
Results: The prevalence of ASD has increased dramatically in recent years. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 110 children under the age of 8 have an ASD. Families of autistic children may continually be faced with barriers to adequate dental care. The complex characteristics associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can make it difficult for affected individuals to access appropriate dental services. The Identifying and accessing qualified dental providers that are willing to work with patients diagnosed with ASDs and knowing how to deal with a problem behavior that may complicate oral health care in either the home or dental office is still a challenge. The ability to afford the cost of dental care remains a big hurdle for many patients. Still there are concerns or anxieties about dental treatment.
Conclusions: It is important that more dental professionals are willing and able to provide dental care, and that families understand why oral health care is important. As a dentist, one needs to show compassion and provide optimum care for the patients and their families. Besides, dentists treating the people with autism must be well versed with the manifestations of the disorder and its connected features so that they can acquire the maximum level of patient cooperation. Educating patients and their caretakers and modifying those plans to continually meet their needs are critical to the success of the patient with autism in obtaining optimal oral hygiene. Therefore an oral health program that emphasizes prevention is considered of particular significance for children and young people with autism.