Plymouth University Peninsula School of Dentistry, Plymouth, UK.
Peninsula Cerebra Research Unit (PenCRU), University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK.
Int J Paediatr Dent. 2018 Mar;28(2):226-238. doi: 10.1111/ipd.12345. Epub 2017 Oct 26.
Accessing and receiving preventative dental treatment can be difficult for children with autism due to sensory processing disorders and/or challenging behaviours coupled with a reported reluctance by dentists to treat these children.
To gather dental experiences of UK parents of children with autism or working diagnosis of autism and explore how they feel primary care dental services can be improved.
A total of 17 parents of children with a diagnosis or working diagnosis of autism took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed thematically.
Key themes identified were flexibility of the dental team and environment, confidence of the parents to advocate for their children's needs, continuity of services and clear referral pathways to specialist services. Cross-cutting all themes was the value of clear communication. The experiences provide greater understanding of issues such as hyper-empathy, the dental chair, challenges of the waiting room, perceived medical authority, and the importance of continuation of care.
In line with previous research about the importance of family-centred care, a strong relationship between parents and the whole dental team is essential for children with autism to access dental examinations and have satisfactory experience of care.
由于感觉处理障碍和/或行为问题，自闭症儿童在接受预防性牙科治疗方面可能存在困难，再加上牙医报告不愿意为这些儿童治疗，使得情况更为复杂。
了解英国自闭症儿童或有自闭症诊断的儿童的家长的牙科就诊体验，并探讨他们认为如何改进初级保健牙科服务。
共有 17 名自闭症儿童或有自闭症诊断的儿童的家长参加了半结构化访谈。对数据进行了主题分析。
确定的主要主题包括牙科团队和环境的灵活性、父母对倡导子女需求的信心、服务的连续性以及到专科服务的明确转诊途径。贯穿所有主题的是清晰沟通的重要性。这些经历更深入地了解了一些问题，如同理心过强、牙科椅、候诊室的挑战、对医疗权威的看法，以及保持治疗连续性的重要性。
与之前关于以家庭为中心的护理重要性的研究一致，自闭症儿童要接受牙科检查并获得满意的护理体验，父母与整个牙科团队之间必须建立牢固的关系。
