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SN children

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Original poster

First trip to the dentist - Any tips or advice?

12 replies

coppertop · 29/10/2007 11:06

This week ds1 and ds2 (both ASD) will be going to the dentist for the first time. My appointment with dd is the day before so that I will be able to explain better about what will happen but does anyone have any tips? The dental practice knows in advance about the autism and that both boys have very sensitive mouths but I will mention it again when I go in for my appointment.

Is there anything else I should be doing?

OP posts:

FioFio · 29/10/2007 11:12

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macwoozy · 29/10/2007 11:13

Same here, my ds has his first one tomorrow, no advice I'm afraid though. I've been putting it off for a few years, but he's got to the age where he just has to go. I've tried to explain to him that on the first visit they'll just have a look in his mouth, but that doesn't seen to make it any less frightening for him Good luck.

magso · 29/10/2007 11:47

Ds would only sit on my knee on the small chair by the open door just like Fios Ds! The saving grace was taking his toothbrush ( dinosaur style and favorite!) and this allowed the dentist a quick look! Ds obediently opened his mouth for the toothbrush. This was 2 - 3 years ago! The next vist he sat in the chair although it was still a very quick inspection for the dentist. Now he is fine and even (miracle of miracles!) tolerated a small filling at his last visit and no he didn't bite the dentist!Ds gets to choose a new toothbrush after each visit.

magso · 29/10/2007 11:51

Sorry Fio dd! Forgot to say dentist was forwarned and had met ds on several occations.

Original poster

coppertop · 29/10/2007 13:11

These are all really good ideas. I hadn't thought about having them sit near the door or on an ordinary chair if needed. Ds2 might also be a bit more co-operative sitting on mt knee. (touchwood!) I think taking ds2's toothbrush could also be just the thing to get him to open up his mouth. He has one of those ones that comes with a little cover in the shape of an animal's head and loves it.

Good luck with your appointment too, MacWoozy.

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FioFio · 29/10/2007 14:52

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sphil · 29/10/2007 17:32

Took DS2 last week for the third time (on the previous two occasions he's sat with his lips clamped firmly shut). He wasn't keen on the chair but sat on my lap (he's the same age as your DS2 I think CT).I took his toothbrush as others have suggested. We've also been practising getting him to imitate opening his mouth wide for several months (saying 'do this' and doing a codfish impression).

All this worked, in that the dentist managed to look at his teeth for the first time ever. However, he did bite her . I don't think he did it intentionally tbh - it was simply his natural reaction to someone trying to prise his mouth open wider. She was great about it (I'd told her in advance about his ASD), but in retrospect I think I should have warned her to keep her fingers out! Bet she will next time though...

It says something that I classed this as a successful visit

Original poster

coppertop · 30/10/2007 13:13

LOL Sphil. I must have similar standards because I would class that as a very successful visit.

It was my appointment today with dd. I explained about the ASD and the dentist said that if they have no luck with tomorrow's appointment they will refer ds1 and ds2 to the SN dentist.

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sphil · 30/10/2007 18:18

Good luck CT! I went today and had to have a small filling in one of my wisdom teeth. I have to say, lying flat on my back with the drill, aspirator and two sets of fingers in my mouth, I really understood DS2's urge to bite...

ladygrinningsoul · 30/10/2007 19:25

When we took DS ( pre DX)we made a family appointment and I got in the chair to have my teeth looked at first as I thought it may reassure him. I would recommend that you DON'T do that as he got quite upset (especially when I had to have an X-ray). When it was time to look at his teeth I lay in the chair and hugged him from behind. He protested but bowed to the inevitable, and afterwards they made a big fuss of him and gave him a whole sheet of stickers.

His teeth were fine, but DH and I needed half a dozen fillings between us.

ladygrinningsoul · 30/10/2007 19:27

Oh, and offer them a reward? (Worked well for us, not for the dentist as yet, but for haircuts which are becoming progressively less stressful).

Original poster

coppertop · 31/10/2007 20:28

Originally I wanted us all to go at the same time but there wasn't a big enough appointment slot available. I'm glad it didn't happen though because I had to have an extra brushing and for some unknown reason my eyes were streaming. I think the dentist thought I was crying. I can't imagine what the ds'es would've thought.

Their appointment actually went pretty well in the end. Ds2 was upset about something else before it started but calmed down enough to sit on the chair. He loved the way the chair could be moved up and down, and he had a pair of sunglasses on to block out the light a bit. He was surprisingly co-operative and the dentist had just enough time to see that his teeth were okay. Ds1's teeth need an extra clean but no fillings. He has to go back in 3 months for that.

I'm not sure the dentist quite 'got' ASD though. I got a few disapproving looks when I said they hadn't seen a dentist before. I told her that it had taken years to get to this point but she didn't seem to understand that at all.

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