The dental visit can be a daunting experience for any child: bright lights, unfamiliar sounds, new smells, and someone someone they don’t know very well getting really close to their face and mouth. For neurodiverse children, the sensory experiences of visiting the dentist can be overwhelming.
At Norwest, we understand, celebrate and welcome diversity. As a specialist paediatric dentists, we provide expert dental care for children with autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. And we work with parents and caregivers to tailor appointments to meet the needs of the individual child.
If your child is neurodiverse, their dental visits in the past may have been met with some of the below:
Letting a relative stranger get close to their face and mouth is a big ask. Plus, the taste and texture of dental materials, bright lights, and loud sounds can be overwhelming.
Dental visits throw a lot of social and communication challenges at kids.
For autistic kids, routines provide a sense of stability, and a dental visit is far from the normal daily schedule.
Add in the uncertainty of not knowing exactly how long things will take or what might happen next, and it can feel stressful.
Staying in the chair can feel torturous, with fidgeting and time perception differences making even short procedures challenging.
Bright lights, tool noises, and unfamiliar textures can overwhelm their senses.
Multi-step instructions and communicating discomfort can be tough while processing everything happening around them.
Sudden urges to move, talk, or react to discomfort can arise, making it hard to stay still.
The most important thing we do is create a safe, accepting environment where we prioritise their wellbeing. We adapt to your child’s needs, rather than asking them to adapt to a neurotypical environment, which may result in masking, feeling overwhelmed or shutting down.
Before your appointment, we take the time to understand your child’s needs so we can create a comfortable and supportive experience. We gather details about their interests, sensory preferences, and any challenges they may have, allowing us to tailor our approach and adjust our space to suit them.
This may include:
We can schedule your appointment during a quieter time of the day and invite you child to visit the rooms beforehand to become familiar with the environment. If your child is not comfortable with using the lift, we can escort you up the stairs.
We can dim the clinic lights and offer options like noise-cancelling headphones, fidget toys and weighted blankets. Your child will be comfortable to stim as much as they need and move around the waiting area.
We understand that neurodivergent children communicate in a variety of ways and we have no expectation for neurotypical communication.
We show your child exactly what’s going to happen next, and let them get familiar with the tools we’ll be using. We make the experience predictable and use timers or counting to show how long each step will last. We work at the pace of your child’s comfort, taking breaks whenever needed.
We understand visual schedules or social stories are key for some children to prepare for visits. You are welcome to take any photos or videos you need during the appointment to assist you.
We work at your child’s pace, allowing for breaks and splitting the appoint into shorter segments. Clear, one-step-at-a-time instructions and frequent positive reinforcement guide the process.
We also work with you to determine the best appointment time based on your child’s ADHD medication schedule.
We understand that dental visits for neurodivergent children can present a complex web of challenges for families. Beyond the immediate stress of getting your child to the appointment, you may worry about how to manage moments of distress, meltdowns or difficulty with cooperation.
We know this means many parents find the appointment itself mentally and physically exhausting. At Norwest, we are here to fully support you and your child to ensure the experience is comfortable, positive and reassuring.
Our team of paediatric dental specialists, surgeons, and oral health therapists work together to provide expert care for everything from neurodiverse children, complex conditions to emergencies.
Our focus is on creating a calm, positive experience where your child feels relaxed and supported. We’re here to help them with care and compassion every step of the way.
We’re here to guide you and your child with care and compassion at every step. We’ll explain what’s happening and the procedure thoroughly to you, and use age-appropriate language to help your child feel at ease and prepared.
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