{"id":199,"date":"2020-12-04T16:01:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T16:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/?p=199"},"modified":"2021-01-06T18:17:39","modified_gmt":"2021-01-06T18:17:39","slug":"help-child-autism-comfortable-special-needs-dentistry-in-hillsboro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/04\/help-child-autism-comfortable-special-needs-dentistry-in-hillsboro\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Help Your Child with Autism Feel More Comfortable at the Dentist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_221772056__1567096339_51266-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"young boy smiling at his special needs dentist in Hillsboro \" class=\"wp-image-200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_221772056__1567096339_51266-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_221772056__1567096339_51266-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/AdobeStock_221772056__1567096339_51266.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Taking your autistic child to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/special-needs-dentistry.html\">dentist<\/a> can be traumatic for them. Not only do they have to deal with a stranger putting their hands and other instruments in their mouth, but the bright lights and strange sounds can overwhelm their senses. While dental visits will probably never be their favorite activity, there are some steps you can take to prepare your child with autism for a more positive experience. Here are some tips from an expert in special needs dentistry in Hillsboro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interview the Dentist<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all dentists are comfortable with, or qualified for, treating a child on the autism spectrum. Before you schedule an appointment, take the time to call the practice and ask some questions, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do you work with kids with special needs?<\/li><li>How do you handle anxious children?<\/li><li>Are parents allowed to stay with their children?<\/li><li>What will you do if a child\u2019s behavior makes dental work difficult?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The ideal dentist should have experience with special needs kids, let parents stay with their children, and have specific methods of easing anxiety. Note that unless there is an emergency, strapping a child down to complete their dental work is <em>not<\/em> the right approach to soothe their nerves. It might work in the moment, but it can create fear of future visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Purchase (or Make Your Own) Picture Book<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are plenty of picture books available to prepare a child for their first dental appointment. If you want to make your little one even more familiar with their dentist\u2019s office, you can visit it ahead of time and take your own photos. If you bring it with you to your appointment, the dentist can use it with your child on the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Buy Some Basic Dental Instruments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>That way, your son or daughter can see and touch them before their appointment. They shouldn\u2019t be nearly as anxious of the dentist using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plan for Sensory Problems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many autistic kids are sensitive to bright lights and loud noises. In that case, bringing along sunglasses or earplugs can minimize the risk of sensory overload. Additionally, keep in mind which flavors your child likes and dislikes. For example, if they simply can\u2019t stand mint but love strawberry, consider bringing your own toothpaste for their cleaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Bring a Comfort Object<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The dentist\u2019s office is an unfamiliar environment that can stress out autistic kids. Holding a comfort object from home, like their favorite stuffed animal, can help them remain calm. It may also help to bring a portable DVD player or tablet with your child\u2019s favorite video. Distracting your child from what\u2019s going on in their mouth can greatly help keep them calm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your child with autism may not exactly look forward to seeing their pediatric dentist in Hillsboro, but these tips can help make their appointments as smooth and painless as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>From basic preventive care to restorative treatments like fillings, The Dentists at Orenco for Kids offers friendly dental care to help put your child at ease. Their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/meet-the-doctors.html\">dentists<\/a> focus on personalized care with an emphasis on ensuring kids remain comfortable from start to finish. Plus, they have plenty of experience treating young patients with special needs like autism, Downs syndrome, mobility issues, and more. To learn more about how they can make dental care easier for your little one, visit their\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/\">website<\/a>\u00a0or contact them at (503) 640-4262.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taking your autistic child to the dentist can be traumatic for them. Not only do they have to deal with a stranger putting their hands and other instruments in their mouth, but the bright lights and strange sounds can overwhelm their senses. While dental visits will probably never be their favorite activity, there are some [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Special Needs Dentistry in Hillsboro | Prepare Autistic Child for Dentist<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Dental visits for autistic kids can be stressful. Read these tips from an expert in special needs dentistry in Hillsboro for making your child comfortable.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dentistsatorencoforkids.com\/blog\/2020\/12\/04\/help-child-autism-comfortable-special-needs-dentistry-in-hillsboro\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Special Needs Dentistry in Hillsboro | Prepare Autistic Child for Dentist\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Dental visits for autistic kids can be stressful. 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