ERIC Number: EJ1454548
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jan
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Oral Care Interventions for Autistic Individuals: A Systematic Review
Lucía I. Floríndez; Dominique H. Como; Evelyn Law; Christine F. Tran; Robert Johnson; José C. Polido; Sharon A. Cermak; Leah I. Stein Duker
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v29 n1 p41-52 2025
Oral care-related challenges are well documented in the autistic community. This review examined interventions designed to improve oral health in autistic individuals across the lifespan. Through a systematic process, 36 studies were identified which focused on improving home-based oral care skills and routines, and reducing fear, anxiety, and/or negative behaviors in the dental clinic. Studies incorporated preparatory interventions to support home-based hygiene activities or improve an approaching dental encounter (n = 29), most often using visual aids, and/or strategies to manage behavioral difficulties exhibited in the dental office (n = 17). Some studies used both approaches (n = 10), combining visual aids prior to a visit with behavior management in the dental office. Using an evidence-based rubric, methodological quality of most articles was only "adequate" (n = 8) or "weak" (n = 23). Findings provide preliminary support for preparatory home-based visual interventions to improve toothbrushing and/or ready patients for dental visits, and distraction or sensory-reducing interventions to improve experiences in the dental clinic. Only one study purposefully recruited autistic adults and no studies included intervention elements tailored to race/ethnicity, culture, and/or socioeconomic status. This review highlights the need for high-quality studies investigating the impact of oral care-related interventions for autistic individuals and identifies a gap in interventions for autistic adults and those from minoritized populations.
Descriptors: Dental Health, Hygiene, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Skill Development, Clinics, Dentistry, Intervention, Family Environment, Visual Aids, Behavior Modification, Fear, Anxiety, Patients
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2993
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Information Analyses; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) (NIH); National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: 1R34DE02226301; U01DE02497801; T90DE021982; 1F31DE03000602; NCMRRK12HD055929; NCATSKL2TR001854