Dental Issues for Teenagers with Autism

A follow up for taking your child with autism to the dentist and getting braces for your child.

What did my child need?

For years, we took our child to our regular dentist.

To be honest, I didn’t love the dental office. However, they have one dental hygienist that began working with my son when he was little. She only works one day a week.

And, I book her every time, every six months.

Why?

Because it’s worth taking my son to this office (the one I’m not crazy about) so he can be seen by the one hygienist who works well with my son.

There’s a reason why I’ve booked her for years.

What happened?

Eventually, we had to get braces for our son.

I was worried about it. I didn’t know if braces and autism would get along.

With my son, I was pleasantly surprised.

He did great. He quickly got used to his braces and did a great job cleaning his teeth for the two and a half years he wore the braces.

Last February, my son got his braces removed.

Was that the end of it?

Well, no, which is why I’m writing about dental issues with your child with autism.

First, my son had to wear retainers at night.

This took a while to get used to, especially remembering to put them in.

My son eventually got used to it and things went smoothly.

Then, we got a bit of a surprise…My son needed more work on his teeth.

What kind of work?

After the braces came off, the orthodontist realizes (through the x-rays) that my son’s bite was off.

This meant that another set of retainers had to be made and they had to be worn with rubber bands.

Tiny, tiny rubber bands.

My son was not pleased. It was hard to put on these rubber bands. He was frustrated at that, and at the instructions of having to wear the retainers for twenty hours a day.

How did he do?

In typical fashion, my son learned how to put on the rubber bands after a day or two. And, he’s accepted that the wearing of the retainers during the day is only for a couple of months.

He’s risen to the challenge!

Yet again.

Dental Issues for Teenagers with Autism are not easy. And, apparently, they may not be finished when you think they’re finished.

I feel I’m lucky that my son adapts relatively well.

He’s great that way. Hopefully, yours will be, too.