By Jerrel Floyd
Jun 3, 2019
Most people know that autism affects a child’s social skills. But some may not be aware that simple tasks, such as scheduling an appointment at a dentist’s office, is often a challenge for these children and their parents.
“A lot of them don’t have anywhere to go,” said Dr. Isabel Driggers, a Lowcountry-based pediatric dentist and owner of Coastal Kids Dental and Braces. “We’re all trying to change that.”
Dentably magazine recently ranked South Carolina as one of the top states where children with autism have a high risk of oral health problems.
The ranking was based on data pulled from the National Survey of Children’s Health.
South Carolina was listed as having a high oral health problem risk because more than 90 percent of children with behavioral and development disorders are not receiving services like behavioral, occupational and speech therapy.
Most of the surveyed children with autism specifically admitted to not receiving this care. Autism Speaks, an advocacy organization, also lists behavior as one of the top things parents of autistic children consider when thinking about getting dental care.
And by delaying or missing early dental appointments, these children develop an increased risk of tooth decay and oral infections that can impact their entire body.
Children with autism also miss out on the opportunity to develop a comfortable routine with a dentist.
“Everybody deserves a dental home,” said Dr. Cynthia Hipp, the chair of the department of pediatric dentistry at the Medical University of South Carolina.
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