DENTIST FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM

How Does Our Dental Autism Program Work?

During your child’s first visit with us, they are given a bag which includes items that we use here. These items include a toothbrush, plastic mouth mirror, floss picks, and a colour copy of our PECS board so that the parents and child are able to familiarize themselves with this routine in the comfort of their own home. The following is what to expect at each appointment:

• Patients are brought in on either a 6-week, 8-week, or 3-month schedule.
• We allot a time of 5-10 minutes to play and become comfortable with the room before we come and greet them.
• One of our dentists and assistants will meet your child (and you) in the play area to greet them and ask if they remember us. (Children on the spectrum usually remember us before we have the chance to say hello).
• Child (and parents if they wish) come back to the recall area and we make small talk (to their level of understanding) until they are calm.
• One of our dentists and assistants will use a PECS board to help your child through the appointment. The board allows them to visually see how many steps they have completed and how many remain.
• 12 steps are included on the board and consist of: waiting area, sitting in the chair, chair down, light on, bib on, saying “ahh,” counting teeth, brushing teeth, fluoride, all done, present, and go home.
• Half of these commands have already been completed by the time your child is in the chair. At the end of the appointment, they get to pick a present and go home.
• We try to complete each step at every appointment. Depending on their cooperation, not all steps are competed and that is always OK. What we like to see is that every time they come in, each step is easier for them, and if all steps were not covered at the last appointment, we complete an additional step to further their progress.

We have had numerous patients using this program that have been very successful. Parents have the choice of being in the room with us, the next room over to “view” what is going on, or to wait in the front common area, as you’re the one who knows what’s best for your child. Please reach out to us to discuss this program and how it can benefit your child’s experience at SmileTown.

Additional Resources

Our partner, Autism Speaks Canada, has launched a specialized free platform for access to reliable information and resources, called My Autism Guide.

Autism Speaks Canada is on a mission to provide equitable access to curated information, resources and service navigation supporting autistic Canadians and their families to reach their full potential through informed decision making.

With so much information available, finding what you need when you need it can be overwhelming. My Autism Guide is a free tool designed for autistic Canadians, caregivers, service providers and members of the autistic community. My Autism Guide facilitates faster, easier access to information, resources and support across Canada.

With My Autism Guide, you can:

• Find resources specific to individual age, location and interests
• Locate virtual and in-person events in your community
• Access listings of service providers in your area
• Enhance your ability to make informed decisions and plan for the future
• Connect with your community through topic specific forums