Dental Care Protocol for Pediatric Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Literature Review
Description
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience behavioural, sensory and communication difficulties that can make dental visits challenging for them. This review aimed to identify the main dental management protocols for paediatric patients with ASD, the techniques used and the most common behavioural manifestations, as well as the influence of parental knowledge on oral health. A systematic search was conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, Google Scholar, EBSCO, ScienceDirect and Wiley databases, following the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 2,995 articles were identified, of which 53 met the eligibility criteria. The results showed a predominance of the basic behavioural protocol, followed by sensory adaptations and visual and technological aids. The use of sedation or general anaesthesia was reported less frequently. Furthermore, clinical outcomes were influenced by the level of parental information and involvement. It was concluded that the approach should be comprehensive, individualised and multidisciplinary.
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Steps to reproduce
Data selection was conducted in four stages, which were: 1- Identification and selection: an advanced literature search was conducted in various electronic databases, such as SciELO, PubMed, and EBSCO. 2- Review: the selected articles were analyzed independently by reviewing titles and abstracts. 3- Exclusion: Subsequently, the selected full-text articles were downloaded and critically reviewed, applying inclusion and exclusion criteria in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. 4- Verification: The bibliographic references of the included articles were reviewed in detail to identify other potentially relevant publications that might meet the eligibility criteria.
Institutions
- Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez UreñaNacional, Santo Domingo