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Review
. 2013 Nov 1;18(6):e862-8.
doi: 10.4317/medoral.19084.

Management of children with autism spectrum disorder in the dental setting: concerns, behavioural approaches and recommendations

Konstantina Delli  1 , Peter A Reichart, Michael M Bornstein, Christos Livas
Affiliations
Review

Management of children with autism spectrum disorder in the dental setting: concerns, behavioural approaches and recommendations

Konstantina Delli et al. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. .

Abstract

Objectives: This article reviews the present literature on the issues encountered while coping with children with autistic spectrum disorder from the dental perspective. The autistic patient profile and external factors affecting the oral health status of this patient population are discussed upon the existing body of evidence.

Material and methods: The MEDLINE database was searched using the terms 'Autistic Disorder', 'Behaviour Control/methods', 'Child', 'Dental care for disabled', 'Education', 'Oral Health', and 'Pediatric Dentistry' to locate related articles published up to January 2013.

Results: Most of the relevant studies indicate poor oral hygiene whereas they are inconclusive regarding the caries incidence in autistic individuals. Undergraduate dental education appears to determine the competence of dental professionals to treat developmentally disabled children and account partly for compromised access to dental care. Dental management of an autistic child requires in-depth understanding of the background of the autism and available behavioural guidance theories. The dental professional should be flexible to modify the treatment approach according to the individual patient needs.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentages of dental schools with special clinics reported by assessment studies of dental education.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Flow diagram of the procedures suggested to be carried out before and during the dental appointment with the autistic child.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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