Many children are apprehensive, or even fearful, about visiting the dentist. If your child has autism, though, you’ll likely need to provide some extra reassurance to create a pleasant experience. Choosing the right provider who has experience working with children who have special needs is the best place to start, but the following tips can help you prepare your child for their next dental appointment. 

How to Prepare Your Autistic Child for a Dental Visit

1. Create Social Stories

Help your child know what to expect during the visit to the dentist using social stories. It may be helpful to create your own, personalized social story using photos you download of your dentist’s office from their website or take during a different visit. Cover all aspects of the visit from check-in through check-out, and share the story with the dental team at the start of the visit so they can refer to it throughout the appointment to help explain what’s happening. 

2. Practice

If you can, purchase or borrow a basic set of dental tools, including the bib, a mirror, and a scraper, and “play dentist” to help your child get more comfortable with the feeling of the tools in their mouth. Your dentist may even allow you to come in during an off period to do a trial run, where your child sits in the chair while you point out the tools and show how they’re used. 

3. Bring Comfort Items 

If your child has a specific comfort item that helps them remain calm, bring it to the appointment. Give the dental team a heads up in advance, so they don't inadvertently do something to upset your child, like move it. Other comfort items to consider include headphones or earplugs to block out the noise from the rest of the office, and the toothpaste and rinse you use at home. If your child is very sensitive to flavors and textures, the unfamiliar tooth polish or paste used by the dentist could upset them. 

When your child has special needs, choose a dentist who understands and is committed to creating a comfortable, welcoming environment.  For more than 40 years, J. David Fisher Jr., DDS, and his team have served families throughout Sanford, NC, and the surrounding communities, providing comprehensive general and cosmetic dentistry. They will take time to explain the procedures as they go, and will do everything possible to make your child feel comfortable. Call (919) 776-0741 for an appointment, or visit the website to learn more about the practice.