Dental visits built around your autistic child
There is no one right way to do a dental visit. Tell us what works for your child — the pace, the words, the sensory details — and we’ll build the visit around it.
Who this page is for
Parents of children on the autism spectrum, and of kids with sensory processing differences who find the sounds, lights, tastes and touch of a dental office hard to take. Some of our patients have never managed a full cleaning anywhere else. Some just need a slower start. Both are welcome here.
Dr. Campbell grew up with a sister who has cerebral palsy and an uncle with Down syndrome, and Dr. Truong has years of experience treating children with special needs, in the office and in surgery centers. This is not a side service for us. Meet the doctors.
How we adapt the visit
A plan for one child
Before we do anything, we listen. What is your child sensitive to? What has gone wrong before? How do they let you know they have had enough? We build an individualized plan around those answers and adjust it as we learn more.
Your words, your pace
We use clear, simple communication so your child understands what is happening before it happens. If your family uses particular words, pictures, signs or a device, tell us and we will use them too. We go at the speed your child can handle, and we don’t rush.
Time to build trust
Sometimes the first visit is just a look around, a ride in the chair and a high-five. Sometimes it is a full cleaning. We take the time to build rapport, and visits get easier as your child learns that nothing surprising happens here.
You stay right there
Parents are welcome at their child’s side the whole time, every visit. You know your child best, and you are part of the team in the room.
Extra help when it’s needed
For kids who need more, we have laughing gas in the office, and for children who cannot safely be treated in an office setting, treatment under general anesthesia in one visit. Neither is ever the first option, and we walk you through every choice first.
Getting ready at home
A few things parents tell us made a difference:
- Practice the moves. Opening wide, counting teeth with a finger or a toothbrush, lying back with a pillow. Make it a game, keep it short.
- Look at the office together. The photos on our homepage and contact page show the front door, the lobby and the chairs, so nothing here is brand new on the day.
- Pack comfort. A favorite toy, a blanket, headphones or sunglasses are all welcome in the chair.
- Pick a good time of day. Tell us when your child is usually at their best and we will do our best to book around it.
- Tell us the history. If a past visit went badly, say so when you book. Knowing what happened lets us plan a different first step.
Want to talk through a first visit before you commit to one? Call or text us and ask.
What the visit looks like
- A warm hello A bright, calm lobby and a front desk that knows your name. Tell us at check-in if the waiting room is too much and we will do what we can.
- Room to warm up We don’t pull your child straight into the chair. There is time to look around and settle.
- Show, then do We explain each step in kid words and show the tools before they go anywhere near a mouth. Your child can say stop, and we listen.
- As much as today allows If we get a full cleaning done, wonderful. If we get halfway, that is a win too, and we build on it next time.
- High-fives and a plan Every visit ends on a good note, and you leave knowing exactly what comes next.
Questions parents ask
Can I stay with my child?
Always. Parents are welcome chairside for every visit, no exceptions.
What if we can’t finish?
Then we stop. There is no pressure and no pushing through. We note what worked, and we try again another day, usually further along than the last time.
Do you see nonverbal children?
Yes. Tell us how your child communicates best, whether that is pictures, signs, a device, or you reading their cues, and we will follow your lead.
Is sedation required?
No. Sedation is never the first option, and most of what we do happens without it. When a child truly needs more help, we explain every option before anything is decided. Our sedation page covers what each one involves.
Do you also see adults with autism?
Yes. We care for adults with special needs as well as children.
Want to talk it through before you book?
Call us. Tell us about your child, what has gone well before and what hasn’t. There’s no wrong question.