- Prepare with photos or a visual guide.
- Show each step with pictures or first-then.
- Explain before touching; reduce noise and light.
- Offer practice visits and breaks.
How can families prepare?
Send photos of the building, room and staff, or a short visual story. Ask families about communication, sensory triggers and what helps. Offer the first or last appointment of the day, when it's quieter.
What helps during the visit?
Try
- Showing each step with pictures
- First-then: first check teeth, then sticker
- Counting down with a visual timer
- Breaks when needed
Skip
- Touching without warning
- Rushing
- Loud, crowded waiting rooms
Visual supports help autistic children understand what's happening and what comes next.2 Paediatric dentistry guidance supports individualised approaches for patients with special health care needs.1
What about haircuts?
Use the same steps: preparation, a visual sequence (wash, cut, dry, finished), quieter clippers or scissors, a cape the child tolerates, and short sessions if needed.
What can we do next?
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