Learn more about autism and preparing for the dentist! Visiting the dentist is important, but it can be a bit daunting for some autistic children. Understanding where this fear is coming from is a great place to start. Join us as we explore this and look at some tips to help autistic children feel ready for the dentist.
why is my child scared of the dentist?
Before visiting the dentist it's important to get to the main reason (or reasons) why your child is scared of the dentist. Here we explore a few reasons.
hyper-sensitivity
Hyper-sensitivity can be a huge factor. Autistic people may find some of their senses are heightened. This is where the brain processes more sensory information, making things like lights appear brighter or sounds louder.
This can make dentists trips especially hard to deal with... they can be loud with phones ringing, background music, numerous people talking. And this is just the reception area! Once you get into see the dentist, there may also be strong unfamiliar smells, very bright lights, and then the experience that involves the dentist physically touching the inside of your mouth using tools and devices which can all be very over stimulating for an autistic person with hyper-sensitivities.
This can all be very overwhelming and make it hard for a child to express their wants or needs, as well as following instructions.
(remember not all autistic people have the same hyper-sensitivities. To learn more about autism and hyper-sensitivity, check out this blog- hyper and hypo sensitivities.)
change in routine
Some autistic children may like to follow a routine daily. When this daily routine gets changed, it might make them feel uneasy and hesitant. Visiting the dentist is quite a big change in routine, it takes at least half an hour, which to a child can feel like a very long time. And you may find that the dentist appointment effects a certain part of their routine. For instance, if you have a morning appointment, it can effect their school routine.
fear of the unknown
A dentist trip usually only happens once or twice a year. So, your child may forget what happens when they visit the dentist. This may make your child very hesitant and fearful to visit the dentist. Not knowing what will happen or what you need to do can add an element of fear and stress to the whole experience.
past experiences
On the other hand, your child may remember all to well what happened at a previous dentist trip which has left them feeling scared. For instance, your child may have had a cavity that was painful and the dentist needed to treat it. Whilst we may know the dentist wasn't the one causing the pain, but actually helping resolve it, your child may correlate that pain to the dentist trip.
This is just one example, but it could be for a numerous amount of reasons. The best way to see if it is because of a bad past experience is to sit down and talk with your child. Ask some open questions to see what they think the dentist is like. This should help you to understand how the dentist appears from their view.
strangers
Lastly, they may be scared of the dentist as it involves dealing with strangers, people who they do not know or how they act. It's very reasonable to feel this way. It's what helps us to stay safe and avoid danger, to be cautious of strangers.
Now that you know some reasons your child might be scared of the dentist, it's time to get to the root of which ones apply to your child as not every autistic child is the same. So, whilst one child may find it is to do with hyper-sensitivity & a fear of the unknown, for another child it may be an issue with strangers. Have a little talk with your child to understand why they feel this way. It will help a lot when trying to find a solution to resolve this fear.
You may also find you can figure out which reasons above might relate to your child based on their behaviours, for example if your child does tend to follow a routine or if you notice your child is sensitive to noises.
7 tips to help autistic children at the dentist
Once you've figured out the reason why your child is scared of the dentist, you can now begin to solve the problem! Here are a few tips that may help.
1. Sensory Kit & Essentials
If your child does experience hyper-sensitivities it's best to bring along a sensory kit filled with your child's favourite sensory items, such as ear defenders, a fidget toy, their favourite calming scent, anything that helps to reduce their sensory input or help distract or calm their senses.
2. Let the Receptionist know you have an Autistic Child & their Needs
If you are concerned about your dentist visit, let the dentist receptionist know that you have an autistic child. You can tell them what triggers your child and see if they can arrange a calmer experience. You can also ask that this information is passed onto the dentist so when your child goes in for the check-up they are prepared. The receptionist may even suggest a better dentist who is more suitable.
3. Ask for a Morning/ After Lunch Appointment
Before your visit with the dentist, call up in advance and ask for a morning or after lunch appointment. These times will have less people around, so you can have a mostly empty waiting room and a short queue. If you cant make these times ask the dentist receptionist when the quietest time is for your visit to reduce your chance of being there at the busiest period.
4. Or Make an Appointment that Doesn't Effect Your Child's Routine
If your child follows a routine, try to fit the appointment in to a time where it won't massively effect it. This could be during the school holidays so it's not effecting their school routine or a part of the day where not much is going on in terms of routine.
5. Play Dentist with your Child
Before going to the dentist, let your child know in advance so they can prepare themselves. By playing pretend dentist your child will know what to expect, taking out the fear from uncertainty. You could pretend by recreating a:
Waiting office- get a few books & toys and pretend you are waiting for your appointment.
Dentist Room- have your child sit down and use their toothbrush & and mirror to do a pretend dental exam, you could even count their teeth.
By doing this, you are also preparing yourself for how your child will react. You will know if they will keep their mouth open or they will stay reclined on the chair. If there are any areas where you feel your child might struggle, let the dentist know and see if they can adjust for you.
6. Distractions
When you go to the dentist, a good way to prevent your child feeling anxious in the waiting room is to bring a bag full of distraction to keep their mind busy. This could include their favourite toys, a tablet, anything they enjoy!
7. Stay With Your Child During The Appointment
If one of the reasons your child is scared of the dentist is because of strangers, reassure your child that you will be there the whole time. This may help them to feel at peace because they know that you're there to protect them.
We hope this blog helps you with your next trip to the dentist❤️
If you found any of these tips helpful, feel free to share! Or if you have any other useful tips that you think should be added, let us know :)