Trips to the dentist were so traumatic for Matthew Stellato that his mother gave up on taking him. The now 10-year-old boy with autism fought having to sit in the chair. He shook his head frantically from side to side, crying the whole time, as the dentist inched closer.

?After seeing a general dentist then paediatric specialist we eventually forgot about cleanings, until a practitioner at school managed to get in his mouth to check his teeth. By then Matthew had developed a lot of problems,? says his mother, Maria, from Toronto.
For many children with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities, dental experiences are overwhelming, largely because of sensory processing issues. The bright lights; buzzing instruments; and masked, gloved strangers are just too much. Often these kids must go to a hospital and receive general anaesthesia, just for a teeth cleaning. Paediatric Dental Group in Greater Vancouver is a community practice that takes a modified approach to treating kids with special needs.

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