Dental advice for parents of children with autism published

25 January 2017
Volume 31 · Issue 6

A new guide has been published by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry in support of parents of children with autism. The guide covers all aspects of children’s dental health from introducing the child to tooth brushing at home to preparing for dental appointments.

There is evidence to suggest that some parents of children with autism are hesitant about taking their child to the dentist for the first time. This can be for a number of reasons but many are anxious about how their child will react to the new situation.

The aim of the guide is to provide practical advice to help parents get their child off to a good start with their dental hygiene and make the first visit to the dentist a positive experience.  BSPD encourages all parents and carers to ensure that children have their first dental check by the age of one. A sample questionnaire for parents to fill in and take to their child’s first appointment is also provided on the BSPD website.

Wendy Bellis, a leading authority on the management and treatment of children with autism and a BSPD member, wrote the content which also benefited from the input of The National Autistic Society (NAS). 

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting The Dentist. To read more, please register. Registration to the-dentist.co.uk allows you to enjoy the following benefits:

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Unlimited access to the latest news, articles and video content

  • Monthly email newsletter

  • Podcasts and members benefits, coming soon!