Behavioral guidance for improving dental care in autistic spectrum disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) impair many aspects of everyday life and may prevent access to dental care, often limiting it to emergencies. Impaired oral health has long-lasting negative consequences on health status and on the acquisition of oral habits (e.g., oral respiration and grinding) or competencies (e.g., proper speech production). Children with ASD may be scared in the dental setting, which is rich in sensory stimuli and requires physical contact. Due to their behavioral manifestations, they represent a challenge for dentists and hygienists. We created a dedicated pathway with behavioral support for children with ASD to allow dental care and possibly limit the use of general anesthesia.

Methods

We evaluated the effects of behavioral support in a qua

SUBMITTER: Pastore I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10682214 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature