Patient care Lyndsay Ovenstone, a senior
dental officer with the Salaried Dental Service, heads a paediatric dental service, incorporating student outreach, in Bridgeton Health Centre in the east end of Glasgow. Last year, Lyndsay played a leading role in introducing an innovative autism-friendly service for children with the condition. Lyndsay said: “I have no formal
training on autism, although I have attended postgraduate courses and have direct experience of providing care for patients with autism. I have always had an interest in this patient group and felt we could make our service more accessible for them.” With some basic knowledge of
autism in place, much can be done in advance to help make an appoint- ment run more smoothly. People on the autism spectrum can feel particularly uncomfortable about the unknown. It can be helpful to provide new patients with information about the surgery in advance so they have some idea of what to expect before they arrive. Lyndsay continued: “We’ve now
developed talking picture books of the service and the dental team as a way of preparing children in advance of their visit. “The new talking books contain
pictures of the health centre, staff and surgery. The books provide a narrative to accompany each picture as the child works through the pages. These are given to children prior to their first visit to help them learn about what they can expect at the surgery. “Parents might also be concerned
instruments can also be a problem. Sometimes the taste of the mouth- wash or the paste used will also have an adverse impact. As a result, people with complex
needs such as autism can receive less oral healthcare, or of lower quality, yet they actually need more dental healthcare than many people. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guide- lines Network (SIGN) guidelines on preventing dental caries in chil- dren with a high caries risk points out that a broad range of physical and learning disabilities can mean
a reduced ability to perform self- care and poor oral hygiene. These lead to dental caries, which are often untreated and result in higher extraction rates. Knowing how autism affects the
individual you are likely to come into contact with and planning for their particular requirements can make a positive difference. By making a few practical adjustments, dentists can play an important role in the oral health and wellbeing of patients with autism and even create a positive surgery experience.
their child will not be welcome at a dental surgery and may not take them for routine care. The books help ensure that parents know they can access our service, as our facili- ties and experience make it more likely we will be able to meet the needs of their child. “If it is the individual’s first visit
to the dentist, you may like to meet them prior to any treatment. You may also want to show them the equipment and how it works.” She added: “Many people with
autism don’t like clutter – things on worktops, or pictures and posters on walls. We’ve removed these from view. We’ve also changed the colours of the walls to make
Continued » Scottish Dental magazine 31
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