Oral health-care practices and dental assistance management strategies for people with autism spectrum disorder: An integrative literature review

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder requires a careful approach from professionals and a favorable clinical environment for dental care and assistance. This article aims To perform a literature review about oral health among people with autism spectrum disorder and dental management strategies for this group. An integrative literature review was carried out in three databases, associating the descriptors: (autism or autism spectrum disorder) with (oral health or oral diseases) and (dental care or dental services). After identification and screening steps, 32 articles were included in the study. The most prevalent subjects were oral health conditions, parents’ understanding and practical attitudes about oral health, treatment and management strategies, and the use of technology. The principal barriers to dental care were the scarcity of specialized professionals, unpreparedness in the referral system, poor accessibility of the clinics, and lack of specific care protocols. The world literature on the subject is scarce, and there is still a need for investment and scientific production due to the incidence of autism in the world population and the maintenance of difficulties and barriers in offering quality health care to this group. Lay abstract Autism spectrum disorder requires a more careful approach from oral health professionals and a favorable clinical environment related to dental care and assistance. This article has the objective to perform a literature review about the oral health-care knowledge and practices in people with autism spectrum disorder, as well as the characteristics of dental care for this group. It was carried out in three articles databases, associating descriptors such as autism or autism spectrum disorder; oral health or oral diseases; dental care or dental services. We identified 32 articles. The most prevalent subjects were oral health conditions, treatment strategies, parents’ understanding and practical attitudes about oral health, management, and use of technology to improve oral health care. The principal barriers to people with autism spectrum disorder to access dental care were the scarcity of specialized professionals, unpreparedness in the referral system, poor accessibility of the clinics, and lack of specific care protocols. The world literature on the subject is scarce, and there is still a need for investment and scientific production due to the incidence of autism in the world population and the maintenance of difficulties and barriers in offering quality health care to this group.