Orthotown November 2023 - 47

6. Mind the environment.
For individuals with sensory dysfunction,
lights, decorations, noise,
music, texture, odors and taste can be
overwhelming. Try to keep stimuli to a
minimum for these appointments and
be creative with accommodations.
7. Break visits up into
shorter sessions.
Long procedures might be overwhelming;
off er to bond one arch or half an
arch per appointment.
Some patients may need to become
accustomed to the sounds and
sensations. Consider allowing the
patient to borrow cheek retractors to
practice tolerating them. Off er to let
the patient touch the instruments and
hear the sounds before you use them
in the mouth.
8. Include the caregiver
in communication.
If the patient has communication diffi
culties, you may have to rely heavily
on the caregiver/parent to facilitate
and interpret.
9. Embrace technology.
Consider an intraoral scanner over
impression material, which can be
more tolerable for ASD patients with
a strong gag refl ex. Making them as
comfortable as possible is critical.
Clear aligners are often easier appliances
for ASD patients to tolerate.
Provide a passive aligner initially,
allowing the patient to become accustomed
to the presence of an aligner
before compounding the sensation
with pressure. Begin treatment with
a few aligners without ordering the
complete treatment, to assess tolerance
and compliance. Introduce
attachments after the fourth aligner.
For these cases, uLab Systems
allows us to order as many or as few
uSmile aligners as necessary, so our
patients or their caregivers don't have
to commit to an expensive treatment
upfront without knowing if it will
work for them. We can also adjust the
velocity and trimlines to be as comfortable
as possible.
Implementing these strategies is
certainly a compassionate approach,
but is also a strategy that can enhance
your practice's growth and reputation.
It will lead to meaningful connections,
a loyal patient base, and a practice
that stands out as a beacon of accessibility
and empathy. OT
Dr. Eric Wu is an adjunct professor at the University
of Nevada at Las Vegas and the Roseman University
Postgraduate Department of Orthodontics, and
teaches at Foothill Community College. Wu attended
dental school at the University of Pennsylvania and
a one-year Advanced Education General Dentistry
residency at University of California Los Angeles
before his orthodontic residency at the University
of Pittsburgh. He also completed a miniresidency in
sleep medicine at UCLA. In addition to his private
practice in Palo Alto, California, Wu serves as a key
opinion leader and clinical advisor to Orthoclassic
and uLab Systems.
Dr. Melanie Wang attended University of California
San Diego and UCLA, completing her orthodontic
specialty training at St. Louis University, and is boardcertified
by the American Board of Orthodontics. The
research for her thesis became a study published
after her residency in a 2009 issue of Angle
Orthodontist: " Mandibular Rotation and Remodeling
Changes During Early Childhood. "
Wang owns practices in San Diego and Rancho
Santa Fe, California. She is married to a general
dentist and they have three children, the eldest of
whom is on the autism spectrum.
NOVEMBER 2023 | 47 | ORTHOTOWN.COM
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Orthotown November 2023

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