Oral Health Care for Autistic Children

Recent studies indicate that the prevalence rate of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has risen dramatically over the past decades and a likely trend of continual global surge in autistic child patients. Children with ASD have oral sensitivities and daily oral hygiene management could be difficult. In caring for autistic children, it is essential to understand the unique behaviors and other possible comorbid conditions and in particular, to gain the confidence and cooperation of the patient before carrying out a specific oral procedure to ensure satisfactory outcome. In this course, you will learn the ways to establish trust with children and parents in a dental visit. You will be introduced to effective methods to stimulate positive attitudes and behaviors towards oral health care and application of minimally invasive clinical therapies from evidence-based research and best practises. Taught by experienced clinical professors and dental practitioners, this course will be a good guide map for all dental practitioners and students, parents and families of autistic children and frontline oral healthcare workers and those in the related fields in bringing a healthy smile to autistic children.

• Identify common dental problems in children with ASD
• Devise minimal intervention treatment planning for children with ASD
• Develop and improve oral self-care skills of children with ASD
• Apply behaviour management techniques with minimal intervention approach