Anna had her first dentist visit | Autism PDD

great advise i have my 1st appointment in a wewk with my 8 yr. old and he's not gonna like it. We can't go in before to show him around it's an hour drive i know it isn't gonna go well but i have to take him any other advise is greatly appreciated !!!!HOORAY ANNA!!! HOORAY MARY!!!
What a relief that it went so well! I remember you were anxious about this!

This is from Mary's previous post..with ideas I thought were great! Thanks Michelle! Still love these ideas! Hope you don't mind!!!
Good luck krismcj!

[QUOTE=MsSteelersFan]

Prep him, talk to him, play dentist at home so he knows what to expect, if possible show him pictures of different tools they use read him books you can find at the library about going to the dentist and what the dentist does. Find a pediatric dentist speak to them ahead of time that you have a child on the spectrum and mention if they have sensory issues... ask if its possible to bring him in early or even a day or 2 before to have him just have a look and feel comfortable (like a mini field trip) Ask ahead of time about trying to use the lead x ray apron on him as a calming tool....

There are also several different dental sounds you can preview on this site http://www.audiosparx.com/sa/display/sounds.cfm/sound_group_ iid.819 for free to prepare him for the sounds he will hear.....

use a bendable straw to pretend to be lookin gin his mouth with and make it fun! Allow him to pretend to be the dentist with you as the patient as well... the more prepared he is the less anxiety

[/QUOTE] horanimals38594.8140625

I had taken her to my dentist since she was comfortable in that office. The women that cleaned her teeth had a little girl a year older than Anna and she was very nice. It all went well. Anna didn't say one word but she sat and opened her mouth and let her look at her teeth and clean them.

I had prepared for this for months. I bought an electric toothbrush that spins and used it everyday. When she sat in the chair I mentioned her cookie monster toothbrush that spins and she had no problem w/thier spinning thing.

I was happy it all went well, last year she wouldn't do it at all. (;

And as I sat there watching her I was so proud, so darn proud of her, that I just had to share this.

If anyone here is planning to do this soon it really helps getting them familiar w/the office and staff first and second, it helps to have props, I used a picture of her friend. When Anna started looking 'done' I let her hold her picture and I talked about her friend. She perked right up. Also, one thing, the chair goes up and down and the lady doing the cleaning thought Anna would like that...I quickly told her "uh, you don't want to do that she has issues with balance and it will scare her"...so she stopped and cleaned her teeth on her knees (:

mary

Well done Mary and Anna.

Shows what happens when you plan for it and you are sensitive to your child's needs.

Congratulations!

well done Anna and Mary glad it went well for you we have a great dentist who jack is comfortable with and since the dentist has a child on the spectrum he knows how to handle jack ie he listens to me lol

lots of great ideas there for getting through the visits i may try that sound site out jack is terrified of the sucker machine and at present thinks its broken since the dentist switches it off before jack goes in and allows him to hold it so he can check for himself that it is broken

glad it went well

Dee