Dental services for children with autism spectrum disorder: Jeremy Brown and colleagues describe a pilot study to assess how parents perceive good practice and barriers to care

Parents described the need for a tailored, flexible and individualised approach during health visits.

“Parents described the need for a tailored, flexible (Muskat et al., 2015) and individualised approach during health visits (Brown & Brown, 2014; Bultas, 2012).”

Parents wanted to share with the dentist the best way to deal with the child and welcome the intervention of dentists who listen and seek the advice of the parents before proceeding with the consultation.

“Parents wanted to share with the dentist the best way to deal with the child and welcome the intervention of dentists who listen and seek the advice of the parents before proceeding with the consultation (Brown & Brown, 2014) and seeking parent expertise (Russell & McCloskey, 2016).”

Dentists had not adapted their practices to children's anxieties.

“It was described that dentists had not adapted their practices to children's anxieties, for example, in the following quote: 'The dentist that we saw, I didn't find her at all understanding of my child's anxieties. The dentist didn't speak in any clear way' (Brown & Brown, 2014, p. 23).”

Six studies used an indicator of complexity of the autism condition, with the majority (n=4) loosely classified as 'medium to high functioning'.

“Six studies used an indicator of complexity of the autism condition (Breik et al., 2018; Brown & Brown, 2014; Davignon et al., 2014; Duker et al., 2017; Nicholas et al., 2016; Strunk et al., 2014; Thomas et al., 2018), with the majority ( n = 4) of these loosely classified as 'medium to high functioning' (Breik et al., 2018; Brown & Brown, 2014; Davignon et al., 2014; Strunk et al.,”

Parents articulated challenges in their descriptions of their direct experiences of health services or as suggestions for changes, based on their experiences.

“Parents articulated challenges in their descriptions of their direct experiences of health services or as suggestions for changes, based on their experiences (Breik et al., 2018; Brown & Brown, 2014; Bultas, 2012; Davignon et al., 2014; Russell & McCloskey, 2016; Strunk et al., 2014; Thomas et al., 2018).”

The parents articulated the need for a collaborative partnership.

“The parents articulated the need for a collaborative partnership (Thomas et al., 2018), as evidenced in this parent quote: 'I worked with the dentist and used her older sister and myself as role models to aid her understanding, our dentist always listened to suggestions and allowed this family consultation' (Brown & Brown, 2014, p. 23).”

Keeping a child still for procedures was a particular challenge for parents and HCPs involved.

“Keeping child still for procedures was described as a particular challenge for parents and HCPs involved”