DS 13 is a nightmare with braces

[Anonymous]

Sounds like someone doesn't know how to pick and choose their battles. Consider your financial loss as punishment for violating your son's autonomy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is hard, OP. The catch-22 is that ASD kids often need more aggressive dental treatment because of early thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and other repetitive movements that push teeth out of alignment. And of course, they struggle with noises, bright lights, mouth touching, oral hygiene, pain tolerance, and compliance.

Maybe you could consider finding a sensory-friendly orthodontist who is experienced in working with patients with ASD? A dentist who understands these challenges can help make treatment more comfortable for your son, or at least something he can tolerate.

I had braces too and hated them - they felt like a torture device imposed on me against my will. Nobody took the time to clearly explain what was going on or what to expect. The upside was that I lost my crippling fear of the dentist. After so many monthly appointments, it just became routine to go in and sit in the chair.

Are you me? That was exactly my experience too. Nobody explained anything, there was no timeline, and the hygienists were constantly yelling at me for not meeting expectations that were never clearly spelled out. I was not an active participant in my own treatment. It was something to be endured. (But it did get me over my dental phobia, due to the frequency of the appointments!) Getting buy-in is crucial.

Find out whether it’s the brackets that are bothering your DS, or the pain of his teeth being moved. There are treatment options that can make things more tolerable. Self-ligating brackets are less pokey and intrusive than the traditional kind (but more expensive). Orthodontic wax can cover up individual brackets that are causing discomfort. If the visual aspect is distracting for him, there are clear ceramic braces available. Look for an orthodontist who’s sensory friendly and willing to come up with a flexible treatment timeline, perhaps with longer times in between adjustments. Would your DS would be willing to do the tradeoff of wearing braces for longer in exchange for less pain and more gradual alignment?

[Anonymous]

Have your husband have a talk with him.

[Anonymous]

We know of a DC with autism who handled Invisalign with no problems. Her teeth are great now, too. She was only 11 years old.