{"id":167,"date":"2025-03-04T21:35:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T21:35:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=167"},"modified":"2025-03-18T21:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T21:39:53","slug":"tips-for-making-dental-visits-more-positive-for-children-with-autism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=167","title":{"rendered":"3 Tips for Making Dental Visits More Positive for Children with Autism"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-2-300x200.png\" alt=\"a child visiting a pediatric dentist\" class=\"wp-image-168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-2-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-2-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/image-2.png 975w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Visiting the dentist can often include a lot of new sights, sounds, smells, and feelings for children. However, for children with autism, the abundance of sensations and stimuli can be overwhelming at times. That said, attending <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/special-needs-dentistry.html\">routine dental checkups<\/a> is the foundation of maintaining a healthy smile for life \u2013 it\u2019s just not always easy to get children with certain needs to feel comfortable during them. Here are a few tips that can help you assist your child with autism with their dental habits and prepare them for regular dental visits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Establish an At-Home Routine Beforehand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Establishing an oral hygiene routine at home with your child can go a long way toward preparing them for professional dental care \u2013 plus it points them toward a lifetime of excellent oral health. Children with autism greatly benefit from having this daily routine; it won\u2019t feel like a stressful or surprising thing, and they\u2019ll slowly but surely learn how to care for their smiles on their own. However, as a parent, you should assist them with tasks like brushing and flossing for as long as they need it. You can also make brushing a family activity; this familiarity can easily translate to checkups and cleanings and helps children form a more positive connection with not just their dentist, but dental care in general. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Schedule Their Appointments During Low-Stress Times<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental offices can be busy, which may overwhelm a child with autism. When scheduling their appointment, try to choose a time when the office is less likely to be crowded, such as the early morning or mid-afternoon. These appointment slots tend to be quieter, which can greatly help your child to feel more relaxed. It\u2019s also wise to schedule appointments on days when you know your child isn\u2019t busy or overwhelmed with school or extracurriculars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Talk with Your Child About What to Expect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Preparation is key for children with autism, since they may struggle with transitions or unfamiliar routines. Well before their visit, talk with your child about what to expect in simple, clear language that they can understand. You might use stories or visual aids to assist with this, or if the office has them, photos of other smiling children being treated. Many dentists also offer pre-visit tours, especially for children \u2013 don\u2019t hesitate to call ahead and see if your office can accommodate your child this way. It&#8217;s also worthwhile to speak with your child\u2019s dentist beforehand to let them know how they can properly prepare on their end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental visits may always be a bit challenging for children with autism, but with the right preparation, patience, and support, you can make things far less stressful for your child. In time, they should learn to associate the dentist with positive experiences and build good oral health habits that last a lifetime! &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Practice<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The team here at Kids\u2019 Smiles on Lincoln has served families in Worcester and the surrounding community for several years under the leadership of Dr. Myles Clancy and Dr. Mina Schafft. We offer a wide range of pediatric dental services for children of all ages and are more than happy to accommodate your child, regardless of their needs. Our team also excels at treating children with autism. If you have any questions about the blog or you\u2019d like to schedule an appointment for your child, you can reach out&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/contact.html\">online<\/a>&nbsp;or by phone for more information.&nbsp;<strong>Telephone: (508) 506-8859. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visiting the dentist can often include a lot of new sights, sounds, smells, and feelings for children. However, for children with autism, the abundance of sensations and stimuli can be overwhelming at times. That said, attending routine dental checkups is the foundation of maintaining a healthy smile for life \u2013 it\u2019s just not always easy [&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":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Dental Visit Tips for Children with Autism | Kids&#039; Smiles on Lincoln<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If your child has autism and has an upcoming dental visit, here are some tips for ensuring a stress-free and positive experience.\" \/>\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.kidsmilesonlincoln.com\/blog\/?p=167\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Dental Visit Tips for Children with Autism | Kids&#039; 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