Going to the dentist
Options
socksoff
Community member Posts: 31 Connected
I am very interested to hear about parents' experiences of taking their children with autism and learning difficulties to the dentist. I find it really stressful (even though my son is now 13) and he can get very lively and destructive in the dentists' surgery these days which is a handful! I am going to be doing some research on individual experiences so would like to hear from you about any difficulties you have had but also if anything has helped you to manage the dental visit - apps, social stories, your own visual schedules, existing story books etc.
Comments
-
Hi socksoff,
Just wondering if you've seen the section on the National Autistic Society website about visiting the dentist? If you've already read this, apologies but if not it might be helpful.
-
Hi - thanks for that. Yes I have seen it but appreciate the response. We have worked out our own social stories which help but I was wondering what works for others and what difficulties they experience and whether they think there is anything that might be useful. All responses very welcome!
-
Hi.
Although I'm not a parent, my autistic younger brother does have similar struggles in the dentists. If we even use the word dentist he goes into a panicky state and it takes him A WHILE to recover! In my brothers case, he finds the rubber gloves and tools in his mouth horrible and he continually refuses to sit in the main chair.
To ease the visit we found that bribes worked well. Not food (because that would defeat the object of the dentist!) but a new DVD. Last time at the dentist we were able to get him to open his mouth widely AND under the proper lamp! It's a slow progress but I hope that next time we'll be able to get him on the chair! I often have to hold his hands too- to stop him pushing the dentist away
Hope this was a bit helpful -
Hi @socksoff
We also have some great tips about teeth and hygiene that have been submitted by members of the community here, which you might find helpful: http://www.scope.org.uk/support/tips/hygiene/teeth
Jen -
Thanks @YoungCarerOverHere and @JenniferU - both very helpful suggestions and stories. Any more experiences out there - good or bad? It's all really helpful - thanks
-
Brightness
Categories
- All Categories
- 13K Start here and say hello!
- 6.6K Coffee lounge
- 69 Games lounge
- 385 Cost of living
- 4.3K Disability rights and campaigning
- 1.9K Research and opportunities
- 199 Community updates
- 9.2K Talk about your situation
- 2.1K Children, parents, and families
- 1.6K Work and employment
- 767 Education
- 1.7K Housing and independent living
- 1.4K Aids, adaptations, and equipment
- 586 Dating, sex, and relationships
- 363 Exercise and accessible facilities
- 737 Transport and travel
- 31.6K Talk about money
- 4.4K Benefits and financial support
- 5.2K Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- 17.1K PIP, DLA, and AA
- 4.9K Universal Credit (UC)
- 6.2K Talk about your impairment
- 1.8K Cerebral palsy
- 868 Chronic pain and pain management
- 180 Physical and neurological impairments
- 1.1K Autism and neurodiversity
- 1.2K Mental health and wellbeing
- 317 Sensory impairments
- 818 Rare, invisible, and undiagnosed conditions