Dentists and ASD?

[ALMummy]

Anyone got any useful ideas or tips or experiences for me please? DS has HF ASD and at age 5 has yet to go to the dentist. Am very very meticulous about home dental care but he needs to go and he will not open his mouth even for me to look inside. Having been talking about dentists and special presents that given to kids who go to the dentist and behave but does not seem to be working at the moment. Getting worried now. Help please.

In our area there is an NHS dentist for special needs children. Apparently it is quite busy though. I found my own dentist that is always on time so no waiting around. I told them ds has ASD and they weren't phased. We go in as a family and all get checked - he is very quick, ds barely opens mouth and he does a quick whip around with the mirror. He did tell me if there was a serious problem we might have to try the special needs dentist but so far been fine. Dentist made it so quick and easy it just wasn't a big deal. (Obviously I was nearly sick with stress beforehand!) Dentist actually finds ds hillarious cos he took all the stickers when the nurse held the box out to him. Is he ok about cleaning teeth at home?

What a coincidence !!

Took DS for his first dentist visit today

What in particular do you think your DS will have a problem with ?

DS was ok waiting (only 5 mins) - if you tell them in advance about ASD they ought to try to get him in on time.

Today DS enjoyed riding up and down in the chair and let the dentist count his teeth, top and bottom.

Then he made the dentist practise counting to 20 (twice .

Then he had to have another ride in the chair .

Dentist was ace and was pleased how well DS did.

Perhaps your first visit could just be to go into the dentist's room ?

Next visit sit in the chair ?

Don't know how practical this would be, just a suggestion...

BTW, dentist said his teeth were ok, no probs, although could do with a bit more of a thorough brushing. DS ONLY CLEANS HIS TEETH HIMSELF AND JUST SUCKS THE PASTE OFF THE BRUSH !! (so was really pleased). If your DS is good about cleaning his teeth than I wouldn't worry too much about his teeth, just getting used to the idea of the dentist. JMO.

Just go to the dentist and have him sit in the chair - this is what my 'normal' DS2 did on his visit. They are quite used to it. DS1 was OK but kept holding onto the dentists wrist while he was poking about!

If they brush regularly then there should be few probs.

My poor chap has got to have braces - they are fitted in a couple of weeks - wish me luck its going to be hell as it is going to feel really funny in his mouth and he's not going to like it . . .

Would he open his mouth to look at his own teeth and count them in a mirror perhaps?
I'm afraid we bribed ds (now 8) with a new dinosaur toothbrush if he showed the dentist his back teeth! We still have to buy new brushes each visit now. It was preceeded with lots of little familiarising visits to the waiting room, chats with the receptionist and multiple visits to the dentists loo (loo obsession). Sadly ds has decay and is very pleased with his 'shiny' (filled) teeth . Good luck!

Thanks everyone. That was really helpful. Made an appointment for next week and we are really talking it up to DS and presents afterwards etc. He is actually excellent about cleaning his own teeth and letting me do it as well. Its the putting something other than a toothbrush into his mouth by someone he does not know that will be the problem and I shudder with terror at the thought of him actually needing treatment of any kind because he just would never allow it to be done.