Navigating Dental Visits with Confidence: A Parent's Guide to Preparing Children
“As an Orchid Academy parent, I can share that dental care has been our biggest challenge. Our child requires anesthesia for dental work and cleanings. Despite this, we regularly visit the dentist's office to practice and acclimate, striving to improve each year during initial check-ups.
It's important to remember that the dental professionals (and Orchid team) are allies in our journey! Every achievement, no matter how small – whether it's just managing to get into the car, driving to the office, walking inside, or simply sitting in the waiting room – is a significant victory. Our experiences may vary, but each step forward is a testament to our resilience and commitment to our child's well-being!” - Orchid Parent Graduate
Introduction
Navigating dental visits can be especially challenging for children with autism or other neurodiverse conditions. We recognize the unique experiences and needs of our families and are committed to providing supportive strategies to make dental appointments more comfortable and less daunting. We partnered with a former Orchid parent, who is successfully navigating the journey of raising a neurodiverse child, to develop this guide.
Tips and Tricks:
1) Set Realistic Expectations
Understand that it may not be possible to complete a full dental check-up on the first try, and that's perfectly okay! Progress may be gradual, and it's far more beneficial to focus on making small, positive steps rather than forcing a complete visit, which could lead to a distressing experience for both the child and yourself.
2) Celebrate Victories Big and Small!
Celebrating every progress your child makes during dental visits is important, no matter how small. Whether sitting in the dentist's chair or completing a full check-up, each step is a significant victory! Acknowledging these successes helps build a positive association with dental care and boosts your child's (and your) confidence!
3) Prepare Using Books, Videos, Pictures, and More.
Introduce your child to the world of dental care through books, videos, and interactive materials. These resources can demystify the dentist visit, making it more familiar and less intimidating. By seeing characters in stories or videos navigate a dental check-up, your child can gain a better understanding of why dental care is important. This preparation can be crucial in easing anxiety and fostering a sense of readiness.
4) Practice with a Dental Exploration Kit
Purchase or ask to borrow a dental kit ($9.97 at Amazon) to explore the tools your child will see in the dental office. Encourage him/her to safely explore and handle the non-sharp tools while you handle the sharper objects. This hands-on experience can transform unfamiliar objects into something more approachable. During the actual appointment, allowing your child to hold a tool like a mirror can provide a sense of participation and control, easing their anxiety and making the experience more engaging!
5) Bring Comfort Items
Bring familiar items from your child's dental routine, such as their toothbrush, floss, or even an electric toothbrush (these can be a fun addition to the toothbrushing routine). Having the dentist use these personal items during the check-up can provide your child a sense of continuity and comfort. Consider including a favorite stuffie or a weighted blanket for extra comfort. These personal touches can make the dental environment feel more like home, easing anxiety and creating a more positive experience.
6) Create a Visual Schedule
Develop a visual schedule for the dental appointment to help your child understand what to expect. This could include simple, illustrated steps like:
Car Ride to the dental office
Arrive and check-in
Go inside the dental office
Wait in a chair, play with toys
X-rays (if doable)
The dentist will look at your teeth (bring your own tools to show your kiddo the Dentist Tools are the same as you explore at home). Some dentists may use your own tools from home.
Get Stickers/Prizes
Go Home (Maybe add in a treat like getting ice cream or going to a favorite park!)
7) Communicate with Your Dentist
Reach out to your Dentist before the appointment to share what they can do to set your kiddo up for success on the day of the appointment. Request a private room or office space to visit before the actual exam. Let them know all the steps they can take to limit the sensory and other environmental factors that may impact your child. They are there to partner with you. Don't be afraid to ask for what your child needs!
8) Have Fun!
Make it an adventure. You are doing an awesome job!
7) Collaborate with Your Orchid Team
Collaborate with your Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who can help craft a social story that depicts a dental visit, providing a comforting, personalized narrative for your child. Your BCBA can also help practice this scenario, making the actual visit feel more predictable and less intimidating. Additionally, consider requesting your BCBA to be present during the dental appointment for added support. The Orchid team is committed to offering comprehensive support to ensure a positive dental visit for both you and your child!
Conclusion
While tailored for dental visits, these strategies can be adapted to various scenarios, including doctor and eye doctor appointments. Just as we use dental tools to familiarize our children with the dentist, tools like otoscopes, stethoscopes, and thermometers can be used to demystify a visit to the doctor. For eye exams, techniques such as showing videos, practicing distinguishing between blurry and clear images, exercising eye movements, and reading from eye test boards can be immensely helpful.
The Orchid Team is always eager to share more insights and tips from our collective journey, understanding that each child's needs are unique. We hope that our experiences can provide a helpful starting point for other parents navigating similar paths. Whether it's preparing for dental visits, doctor's appointments, or eye exams, we believe in the power of preparation, familiarity, and gradual exposure to ease anxiety and build confidence. Our team is dedicated to supporting families with personalized strategies and resources, ensuring that each step is a positive and empowering experience for children and their parents.
