مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Oral and dental health of autistic individuals

Abstract :

Providing oral and dental health is one of the primary health problem of the disabled people, and if not treated negatively affects self-confidence, socialization, development and quality of life of the children. All over the world,autism which is at the third place after mental retardy and cerebral palsy between the most common develepmental disorder of childhood, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that characterized by impairments in social interactions, communication difficulties and restricted-repetative behaviors. Clinical situations like sensorimotor deficiencies, impaired functions of management, attention problems, anxiety and related emotional regulation, comprehension difficulties and general speech disorders, creates several challenges for parents, educators and dentists at the providing oral health care of these children. In addition, taken medications, special diets, and their deficiencies at providing oral and dental health also is olsa one of the affecting factors of the oral and dental health of autistic children. We should provide accessibility of adequate routine care of autistic children as well as teaching lifelong oral health care. Ensuring the behaviour management is the main problem of dental treatments of the children with autism. The applicability of many methods was evaluated ranging from basic behavior management techniques to advanced behavior management techniques. Providing a more successful behavior control with learning these children s unique behavior patterns better, will help us to get more succeed results at dental treatments as well as provision of oral hygiene.