A Protocol to Streamline Dental Care in Autistic Children — DentAutism  

Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Trial

Official title: A Three-years Project for Assistance and Dental Care of Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder at the Community Dentistry Unit - Piove di Sacco Hospital (Padua, Italy)

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The investigators aim at creating a dedicated pathway to allow accessibility to dental care for ASD children within a hospital Dentistry Department, in order to diminish the need for general anesthesia. Visual pedagogy, parent training, a strict schedule for appointments (every two months) spanning over three years and longer duration of dedicated examination are set up for a group of ASD children, whose behavior is compared to that of children seen one or twice a year.

Clinical Trial Description

Treated group:

Enrollment: caregivers receive instructions and a visual pedagogy aid with instructions for toothbrushing. They complete also enrollment and informed consent forms.

At the first visit: caregivers receive a dental mirror to be used at home. Children are free to explore the office and dental room.

Subsequent visits, every two months for three years: trials are made to establish contact with children, make them seat at the dentist's chair, execute dental visits and treatments as needed.

Control group: subjects (similar inclusion and exclusion criteria) that access the Department for clinical reasons or control visits, but cannot comply with the strict two-months schedule. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• NCT number: NCT05553262
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Padova
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: January 1, 2019
• Completion date: December 31, 2021