Child with Aspergers - Dental Issue

Bicycle

Hi Guys,

Apols if this is posted in the wrong area.

Anyhow, our youngest has Aspergers. He's 10 years old. Mild but he still has it and it causes problems. And he gets obsessions.

One of the current obsessions is with avoiding dentists. He had two baby teeth removed by my wonderful dentist over the summer but didn't like the injections. When it came to getting a filling the following week in a baby tooth he ran out of the chair.

So, fine, his mother (me) did that many years ago. Was eventually given an ASBO from a particular dental practice but managed to get the teeth done with another. But there's no comparison between the dentist that ASBO'd me and my wonderful dentist.

So second week he decided he was going to get it done. Sat in the chair, took one look at the dentist, roared and bolted. Dentist is now suggesting himself have any further work done under general.

He's now decided that he will never ever have another needle used against him. (Gave us an hour's lecture over dinner this evening, it was tempting to finish the full bottle of wine). He doesn't want to go back to a dentist ever and he's prepared to let his teeth rot rather than go to a dentist. But in his favour he's obsessive with cleaning and was late for school the other day because he was flossing.

So, my question is, do any of you professionals have any experience with kids with Aspergers or are there any parents of kids with Aspergers who have tips please.

I do want him to maintain his tooth hygiene. I do want him to maintain his dental health. And he still has all bar 4 of his baby teeth.

Oh and he's asthmatic as well, so I'm wondering if we used gas, would it have an impact?

If anyone can guide me/us it would be great please.

Thanks.

Oh and just to clarify, the reason the teeth needed to come out was because the new teeth had grown behind them and didn't push them out. He had a double layer of teeth. They were actually in pretty good shape.

ballsymchugh

i've dealt with a fair few kids with varying degrees of autism and aspergers, and the one thing i can safely say is there is no way to go. all the dentist can do is be patient. i've seen plenty of 'normal' kids which would have made your son seem like an angel, and plenty of special needs kids that would have you crying with laughter on how easy going they've been.
in ireland not many general dentists deal with kids, never mind a kid with aspergers, so maybe the guy who gave the ASBO just did it out of frustration at not being used to the situation.
one kid that i treated shouted the place down and clasped his hands over his mouth. he was about 13 at the time and i gave the usual spiel of what will you do when it hurts etc. at the end of the appt having got nothing done, his mother told me he had aspergers, something she didn't write down on the med history. i thought he was just being a brat. she did bring him back a few times with her so he could get more exposure to the place and eventually we talked him into getting the work done. it took a lot of time but eventually got there.
so all you need is someone with patience!! and bring him along when you've a regulare appt so he'll familiarise himself with the place.

Bicycle

Thanks Ballsy.

I was the one that got the ASBO

It was a narky lady dentist who is long retired. She used to operate out of a very small room and would turn around at you facing you with what appeared to be a huge needle heading for me.

On a couple of occasions I screamed loudly and dodged her (a difficult job given the size of the room) and ran past her out to my Mum. I was ASBO'd after that.

Our own dentist has been wonderful to our son. Very patient. And I've always tried to take the kids with me when I've had cleanings and checks and fiddly appointments where you end up laughing more than being treated.

I'm sure this is just another obsession and hopefully it will pass.

In the meanwhile thanks. Much appreciated.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

THere are specialist kids dentists and special care dentists with extra training in how to get kids to have good experiances at the dentis, might be worth looking into.

Lux23

My brother is profoundly autistic so he will not let anyone near him, he didn't see a dentist till he was 18 and luckily he only needed a good clean and one filling. The only way we found around it was getting him knocked out, we also take blood at the same time too although the dentist is always a bit miffed about that. It may be an extreme option in this case but there are dentists that may do this for you.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

GA is never first choice, but with some kids its the only way to get things done....