Dental experiences of a group of autistic adults based in the United Kingdom

McMillion, Audrey; Herwegen, Jo Van; Johnson, A. L.; Monteiro, Joana; Cronin, Aaron; Remington, Anna

doi:10.1111/scd.12583

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 39 publications

(105 reference statements)

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“…The highest endorsed barriers to accessing health care services were related to sensory issues, behavioural challenges, and cost. These barriers are broadly consistent with other studies exploring specific barriers to oral health care in children and adults on the autism spectrum 11 , 12 , 27 , 28 . Uniquely, we reported that these barriers were more frequently endorsed for children with greater adaptive functioning difficulties and consequently more likely to have higher support needs.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum

Alvares

Mekertichian

Rose

et al. 2022

Special Care in Dentistry

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Aims Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder may be at higher likelihood of experiencing poorer oral health and difficulties accessing dental health care. However, identifying which children on the autism spectrum may be more vulnerable to experiencing dental care difficulties is still unknown. This study investigated parental reports of oral health and dental service needs of children diagnosed with autism and explored relationships with clinical phenotypes. Methods and Results Participants (n = 140) were parents of children on the autism spectrum who had participated in a large national biobank study, the Australian Autism Biobank, invited to complete additional surveys about oral health, service use, and barriers to care. One third of parents reported their child's oral health was worse than other children the same age, with 26% reporting untreated dental problems. A third of children were reported to have undergone general anaesthesia at least once for dental procedures. Children who had undergone general anaesthesia were more likely to have intellectual disability and greater functional difficulties. Parents of children with greater functional limitations and sensory challenges reported experiencing barriers to accessing dental care more frequently. Conclusion These results have important implications for paediatric dentists working with children diagnosed with autism with co‐occurring intellectual, functional, and sensory challenges. Findings may inform the development of more personalised autism‐specific supports.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum

Alvares

Mekertichian

Rose

et al. 2022

Special Care in Dentistry

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“…For instance, in a recent study of autistic people's dental experiences in the UK, autistic adults did not mention a need for caregivers to attend the appointment with them, as mentioned here, and autistic individuals expressed that their anxiety stemmed from known (mainly sensory) concerns rather than concerns about the unknown as dentists speculated in the current study. 26 Further, dentists in the current study recommended using strategies (like incentives) that autistic adults did not mention in the previous study. 26 These variations in opinion highlight the importance of including patient voice when seeking to understand and ameliorate challenges encountered.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…26 Further, dentists in the current study recommended using strategies (like incentives) that autistic adults did not mention in the previous study. 26 These variations in opinion highlight the importance of including patient voice when seeking to understand and ameliorate challenges encountered. Some of these discrepancies, however, may be due to differences in approaches for autistic children versus autistic adults.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 67%

“…16 Indeed, in Sweden and the UK, autistic adults report higher levels of dental anxiety than nonautistic adults. 25,26 One factor suggested to be crucial in promoting better access to successful dental care for autistic people is the approach of dental professionals. Dental professionals play an important role in establishing effective communication with and listening to parents and patients, recognizing the unique needs of the individual, and having flexibility to accommodate these needs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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UK‐based specialist dental professionals’ experiences of working with autistic patients

McMillion¹,

Tobiansky²,

Wang³

et al. 2021

Special Care in Dentistry

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Aims: Previous research has demonstrated that autistic individuals often experience difficulties accessing dental care, both as a result of autism specific difficulties and practitioners' attitudes towards autism. However, very little research exists that explores dental professionals' experiences of providing care to their autistic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the strategies UK-based dental professionals' use when working with autistic patients Methods and Results: In this study, dental professionals (n = 16) from a variety of specialty roles (special care, paediatrics, orthodontics) were interviewed.We asked participants to talk through, in depth, specific cases they had encountered in their practice, what sorts of accommodations they had provided, and what concerns had arisen during appointments. Thematic analysis was used to analyses the data and revealed four main themes: the unique dental needs associated with being autistic, effective adaptations to practice, the crucial role of the caregiver, and the importance of specialist knowledge Conclusion: Recommendations for how dentists can improve the dental experiences of autistic patients can be drawn from the specialist dentists' responses in this study. These include involving autistic patients in decisions about their treatment and being flexible and willing to work with autistic patients and their caregivers.

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“…A study specifically examining the experience of dental services revealed that autistic adults without ID more often felt forced to proceed with dental treatment they were not prepared for and recalled more painful dental experiences than a neurotypical control group ( Blomqvist et al 2014 ). A UK online survey reported significantly more negative overall experiences and lower satisfaction scores associated with dental communication, sensory sensitivities, and knowing what was going to happen at a dental visit from autistic adults without ID ( McMillion et al 2021 ). Although higher dental anxiety levels were reported in both studies, neither study specifically investigated a relationship between previous child oral health experience and current reported anxiety or interaction with dental services.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dental Visits for Autistic Children: A Qualitative Focus Group Study of Parental Perceptions

Parry

Newton

Linehan

et al. 2021

JDR Clinical & Translational Research

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Introduction: Patient groups who pose behavioral challenges during dental attendance may be offered more restricted dental treatment options. Unsuccessful participation with dental visit tasks and demands has been commonly reported for autistic children. Objectives: This study aimed to examine parental perceptions of difficulties associated with dental attendance and oral care for autistic children and young adults, to highlight reported challenges and potential adaptations, and to identify interventions that will encourage positive experiences of dental attendance. Methods: Qualitative data were gathered through 2 focus groups with parents of primary school and secondary school pupils with autism, interviewed in separate groups. Questions about parents’ perceptions of dental attendance and oral care were asked. The groups were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were analyzed and initial codes generated. Development of subthemes and themes followed a process of thematic analysis. Results: Parental perceptions, which confirmed data from other studies, included the need for understanding and training, awareness of sensory issues, recognition of the individuality of autistic traits, time and clarity for communication, and factors affecting the confidence of parents to advocate in the clinical environment. Focus group participants identified the critical value of empathizing with an autistic perspective and highlighted the importance of positive oral health messages. They also noted the lack of understanding regarding the complexity of altering self-imposed, ritualistic dietary regimes and attempting to enact good dental preventive habits for their children. Conclusions: Analysis of data from parent focus groups provided a greater understanding of the needs and responsivity required for successful dental visits for autistic children and young adults. A range of potential interventions was identified and incorporated within a model of needs. Interventions based on Partnership Working, System Change, and Training of Dental Staff could be effective in reducing challenges posed by dental attendance for many children with autism. Knowledge Transfer Statement: Sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, comorbid intellectual disability, and dental anxiety are barriers to successful participation during dental attendance for autistic children. This research proposes that interventions supporting Partnership Working, System Change, and Training of Dental Staff can reduce challenges posed by dental attendance. The model of interventions developed as part of this project can be used by oral care teams to help reduce barriers and improve the success of dental visits for autistic children.

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Dental experiences of a group of autistic adults based in the United Kingdom

Cited by 10 publications

References 39 publications

Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum

Dental care experiences and clinical phenotypes in children on the autism spectrum

UK‐based specialist dental professionals’ experiences of working with autistic patients

Dental Visits for Autistic Children: A Qualitative Focus Group Study of Parental Perceptions

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