[Using the clear aligner system in children with an autism spectrum disorder]. / Toepassen van het clear- alignersysteem bij kinderen met een autismespectrumstoornis.

Oral care for children with autism spectrum disorder requires a distinctive approach often involving a lot of effort, energy, and time. It puts the perseverance of parents and carers severely to the test. This is very recognisable to the orthodontics department of the Erasmus Medical Center. Negative experiences with conventional orthodontic appliances in this group of patients were the reason to start using the clear aligner system in January 2018. This article deals extensively with the treatment process, the advantages of the clear aligner system, and the need for an adapted, autism-friendly management style in orthodontic care for children with autism.

[Autism-friendly dental care]. / Autismevriendelijke tandheelkundige zorg.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in approximately 1% of the Dutch population. Among the group of patients with this disorder, there is a substantial diversity regarding skills, intelligence and treatability. However, there are also common characteristics; people with ASD often have difficulty with social interaction, communication, and exhibit typical patterns of behaviour. Therefore, problems may arise in the various areas of development, such as language development and responding to sensory stimuli. Dental practitioners will also be confronted with individuals with ASD. Care can be significantly improved, considering that negative experiences and dental anxiety are widespread at this time.