Dental Care for Autistic Children
摘要
Autistic children often face significant challenges in maintaining oral health due to sensory sensitivities, communication difficulties, and behavioral issues. These factors can make routine dental care and visits particularly stressful, resulting in a higher risk of oral health problems. This entry examines the common dental challenges faced by children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and identifies the factors that contribute to creating a comfortable environment and influence anxiety reduction during dental care. It also explores the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR)-based therapies in enhancing social communication, sensory integration, behavioral adjustments, and overall experiences during dental treatments for individuals with ASD. The integration of VR technology provides an interactive and structured approach that enables individuals to acquire real-life skills in a secure and enjoyable manner. Recent studies emphasize its potential to promote cognitive and emotional development while tackling the distinct challenges encountered by individuals with ASD. In the field of dentistry, VR has demonstrated the ability to lessen anxiety and enhance cooperation during dental procedures, thereby making treatments more attainable and less distressing. Nevertheless, challenges like accessibility, expenses, and ethical issues continue to present major hurdles. Upcoming research should aim at enhancing VR applications to guarantee wider accessibility and effectiveness for various ASD groups. The results indicate that VR has the potential to be a beneficial addition to conventional ASD therapies, such as dental care, offering creative and engaging therapeutic possibilities.