Trial helps ease worries about dentist visits

A TRIAL to support people living with intellectual disabilities to feel comfortable going to the dentist is under way at Bellarine Community Health (BCH).

The health services provider has adapted its autism dental service to now include people living with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities and is offering trial appointments throughout April and May.

Fifteen-year-old Jessie Rawson is the first patient to participate in the trial.

“It’s weird going to the dentist and sometimes I get nervous,” Jessie said.

Jessie’s mum, Christine Rawson, says it is difficult for someone with an intellectual disability to feel comfortable at the dentist.

“The dentist is a fear even for us as adults, so for young children and people with a disability, especially around the sensory and communications challenges, it can be so traumatic,” Christine said.

Jessie describes her experience under the BCH personalised service as “really positive”.

Dental staff were trained to know about intellectual disability and talked Jessie through ‘My Story’, a unique and easy-to-follow intake questionnaire to work out Jessie’s individual needs and the resources to best support her during the appointment.

These included headphones, an iPad with Jessie’s favourite show and calming sensory materials.

Trial co-ordinator and speech pathologist Nicki Goodwin says adapting the existing autism personalised dental program gives greater access to essential dental services to more people in the community.

“It is often quite difficult for people living with intellectual disability to feel comfortable at the dentist and to understand what is happening, so this new service is designed to reduce that anxiety and agitation for patients to give them a more positive dental experience,” she said.

The intellectual disability dental trial has been funded through a grant from the State Trustees Australia Foundation.

Community members with mild-to-moderate intellectual disabilities and their carers can register their interest for the dental service online at bch.org.au/projects/id-dental or phone 0419 736 731. BCH will then make contact to arrange an appointment.