Autism, Sensory Overload, and the Dentist- UGH!

A lot of people don't like going to the dentist, but for people with sensory integration issues, it can be torture.  That's not an exaggeration, it's an actual assault on their senses.  This used to be the case for our son, Nathan.  He has autism and a trip to the dentist would mean guaranteed sensory overload.

What does sensory overload mean? Well on the outside it looks like an out of control child throwing the worst temper tantrum you've ever seen. He would yell, squirm, hit, kick and eventually vomit on the hygienist (I know, gross, sorry!). My husband and I would try to hold him down while the dentist and hygienist tried to clean and examine his teeth. Actually it was kind of torture for all of us. But on the inside, his body was trying to process everything his five sense were taking in.

Nathan wears sunglasses over his glasses

because of the bright lights in his eyes

(sorry, we don't have a lot of dentist pics- it's just too

overwhelming for photography!)

These are just a few of the things Nathan sees, hears, smells, tastes, and feels while at the dentist-

See- bright lights, strange people in masks, unusual tools, other kids getting their teeth cleaned

Hear- drills, water in sinks, people talking, those tools that make that sucking sound

Smell- disinfectant, nitrous oxide, gloves (the smell of the gloves really freaked him out)

Taste- the polish they use on his teeth, fluoride, the gloves

Feel- the plastic on the chair, the paper bib they put on him, and strange fingers and tools inside his mouth

This video offers amazing insight into what

sensory overload actually feels like

After a few miserable trips, our dentist came up with a plan.  We would come back to the dentist every six week or so to desensitize him.  Cleanings are usually done by hygienists in a large room where about 6 children are worked on at once.  The dentist said she would do Nathan's cleanings herself, in a smaller, quieter procedure room and she also would give him nitrous oxide to help calm him.  She sent us home with one of the masks she would use for the nitrous oxide so we could practice putting it on his nose and told us when we come back to bring his own toothbrush and toothpaste.

Nathan has never had a cavity and doesn't mind

going to the dentist anymore!

So a few weeks later, we came back.  We had practiced putting the mask on his nose and brought his toothbrush and toothpaste.  As soon as we got there he started to freak out.  When he was in the chair he refused to put the mask on and wouldn't let the dentist near him, but he would let me sit next to him. So I held the mask about a foot away from his him, and as he calmed down, I inched it closer to his face until it was eventually over his nose. Then the dentist tried to put her finger in his mouth, as soon as she did, he started to gag. She asked me if I brush his teeth for him at home and I said I do. She asked if I could put my finger in his mouth to see if that would work. It did. I started to brush his teeth for him with his own toothbrush and toothpaste. He didn't resist. That was enough for that day- we were all exhausted!  

Several weeks later, we came back and started out the same way, this time, Nathan let me keep my finger in his mouth, while the dentist brushed his teeth with his toothbrush and toothpaste. The next time I kept my finger in his mouth, while she cleaned his teeth with that spinning polisher thing- but still with his own toothpaste! We were making amazing strides.

We continued like this for about 6 months, until finally, the dentist was able to do the cleaning using all the normal tools, polish and fluoride. Now Nathan goes once every six months, just like everyone else. He still gets his teeth cleaned by the dentist, in a small, private room, and with nitrous oxide, but other than that, it's normal. The other day, he even got 360 degree x-rays for the first time, and sat still a full 20 seconds for them!

"Think your way out, look for a new angle"-Tadashi from Big Hero 6

Sensory overload can be difficult not just for the person experiencing it, but for parents, caregivers, and even dentists! But maybe, if we all try to be like Hiro from Big Hero 6, and "look for a new angle" we'll figure out away to deal with it!