For kids with autism and sensory issues, visiting the dentist can be an overwhelming experience due to heightened sensitivities to sound, light, and unfamiliar surroundings. It’s crucial for dental care providers to create a calm, patient-centered environment with tailored accommodations, such as desensitization techniques or the use of sensory-friendly tools. These adjustments can help foster trust and ensure that children receive the care they need without added stress.
Dentists with an understanding of autism and sensory issues can help your child have a more comfortable experience and teach them how to care for their teeth in a way that feels best for them. Clifton & Mauney is a sensory-friendly pediatric dentist in Chapel Hill—call 919.933.1007 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.
What is autism-friendly dental care?
Autism-friendly dental care provides accommodations for the sensory issues that are common in people with autism. It also cares for unique oral health needs that might stem from or be made worse by autism, like teeth grinding, lip biting, or self-injury, like gum-picking. Pediatric dentists and orthodontists who specialize in helping kids with autism can also monitor common issues like delayed tooth eruption, tooth crowding, and bite differences that may benefit from treatment.
Why autistic people face unique oral health challenges
Sensory sensitivities
Bright lights, the hum of dental equipment, minty toothpaste flavors, the texture of gloves, or the vibration of electric tools can trigger discomfort or distress.
Communication differences
Some autistic people may not understand complex instructions or may not be able to communicate discomfort or pain clearly. Parents of autistic kids can help them learn how to communicate with dentists when they go with them to pediatric appointments.
Anxiety about new environments
Many autistic people thrive on predictability. Entering a new space, meeting new people, or experiencing unfamiliar steps can trigger heightened anxiety.
Increased oral-health risks
Selective eating, medication side effects, or difficulty with brushing and flossing routines can increase the risk of cavities or gum disease.
Behavioral issues
Kids and teens with autism may also have behavioral issues (like quick tempers) that make many parents nervous about going to the dentist.
Nervous system challenges
Some people with autism have overactive nervous systems, which can cause twitching or even seizures. Dentists have to be especially mindful of how someone may react when they’re in the chair.
Habits
Tooth grinding and tongue pushing can cause issues with teeth, and both are common among people with autism.
At-home dental care
Maintaining good oral hygiene routines can be difficult, especially for parents of autistic kids. Sensory issues aren’t confined to a dentist’s office, and it might take some time to find the right, tolerable equipment at home.
What makes a dental visit autism-friendly?
Clifton & Mauney is proud to be a sensory-friendly dentist in Chapel Hill. We offer many sensory-conscious accommodations for kids recommended by Autism Speaks and the American Dental Association (ADA), including:
Sensory-friendly modifications
- Private rooms instead of open bays
- Dimmed lighting and sunglasses for light sensitivity
- Noise-canceling headphones (bring your own or borrow ours)
- Sensory supports, like weighted blankets, sunglasses, and fidget toys
- Reduced tool usage when possible—for example, we can avoid suction and wipe saliva manually if that’s more comfortable
- Warm-water rinsing and options for toothpaste flavors
Predictability & structure
- Step-by-step explanations (“first we count teeth, then we brush”)
- Tell-show-do: We explain, we demonstrate, then we perform
- The option to use the same hygienist or assistant at each visit for familiarity
Communication supports
- Simple, literal language
- Allowing extra processing time
- Using picture cues or gestures when helpful
- Giving the child a “pause signal” whenever they need a break
Partnering with your child’s therapy team
Our team happily collaborates with occupational therapists, behavioral therapists (BCBAs), and pediatricians to align strategies and support a child’s sensory, behavioral, and communication plan.
How to prepare your autistic child for a dental visit
It might seem overwhelming, but taking your autistic child to the dentist is important for their current and future dental health. Preventive care is less invasive and intensive and can prevent them from ever needing more intensive treatment. Taking time now to take them to the dentist and be with them to teach them how to communicate their needs, ask for accommodations, and regulate their emotions will give them what they need to be more independent and open to going to the dentist in the future. Here are some ways you can help them prepare:
Practice at home
Try these at home so your child has a better idea of what it might feel like when they go to the dentist’s office. Anything you can do to build familiarity can reduce anxiety and overwhelm when they get to the appointment:
- Putting hands on their stomach
- Putting feet straight out
- Opening wide
- Holding their mouth open briefly
- Practicing X-rays with a bitewing at home
- Tolerating a toothbrush, mirror, or gum massager
Before your appointment
The night or morning before the appointment, talk to them about the day ahead. You can:
- Look at photos of the office and treatment room
- Review a visual story together
- Choose the time of day your child does best
- Plan a reward or calming activity afterward
During the visit
Here’s what you can do to make the actual appointment easier to handle:
- Bring comfort tools (fidgets, blankets, headphones)
- Request minimal wait time when you make the appointment
- Let us know your child’s triggers and calming strategies
- Ask how often they’ll need a cleaning, so it can be normalized
At-home oral care for autistic children
Healthy routines at home can make dental visits shorter and less overwhelming. Here are some practices and tools you can use to make habits easier for your child:
A simple six-step brushing sequence
- Brush outside, inside, and tops of the bottom back teeth (one side).
- Brush outside, inside, and tops of the top teeth (same side).
- Brush inside/outside of the bottom front teeth.
- Repeat on the opposite side.
- Brush inside/outside of the top front teeth.
- Finish with opposite the top back teeth.
Some electric toothbrushes, if your child can tolerate them, have built-in timers that vibrate or chime when it’s time to move to different parts of the sequence. If they can’t tolerate it, that’s completely fine! Stick to the basics and accommodate any sensory needs to make caring for their teeth more enjoyable.
Helpful home tools
- Timers (visual or audio)
- Non-minty toothpaste
- Soft or silicone brushes
- Water flossers or floss holders
- Visual checklists showing the brushing steps
Gradual desensitization and independence
It might take time for your child to really build their healthy routine, and that’s okay. Give them patience and space to learn, and work with them so they don’t have to do it alone. If you have a hard time getting them to brush their teeth, gradually desensitize them by adding time, letting them feel and hold the brush, brushing with them to show them it’s safe, or even playing some of their favorite music while brushing. As they go, their anxiety should go down, and their routine will become something they won’t want to break.
Choose Clifton & Mauney for sensory-friendly dental care in Chapel Hill
Still not sure how you’re going to choose a pediatric dentist in the Triangle? Consider what your child needs. At our office off I-40 in North Chapel Hill, we’re committed to providing a welcoming and accommodating environment for all our patients, including kids with special needs. Our team specializes in creating personalized care that caters to sensory-sensitive individuals, ensuring a stress-free dental experience. With a focus on empathy and understanding, we strive to build trust and confidence in every visit. Call 919.933.1007 or book a pediatric dental consultation online today.
