Training children with autism spectrum disorder to undergo oral assessment using a digital iPad ® application.

AIM: To present a training programme for teaching children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), to be compliant with a dental examination.

METHODS: Fifty-two children and adolescents with ASD (age range 3-19 years) with a parent-signed consent form were enrolled. Dental examinations were performed once a month in education centres by a paediatric dentist using a visual activity schedule on an iPad® that was created with a digital application, çATED. Achievement and anxiety were evaluated using scales and grids every 2 months for 8 months.

RESULTS: Showed an improvement in oral assessment; the children became compliant and less anxious. The percentage of individuals who underwent the entire dental exam process increased over time; it was 25% at the beginning of the study and 65.4% after 8 months. Only 7.7% of the sample was not anxious at the beginning, while 59.6% of the sample was not anxious after 8 months. Wilcoxon analysis also showed significant improvement in the studied variables.

CONCLUSIONS: Training children and adolescents with ASD to undergo dental examination was efficient. The use of the iPad® is attractive and easy for practitioners and people with ASD.