researchers

Cermak, Sharon Andrea EDD

University of Southern California

INCLUDE Grants

Sensory Adapted Dental Environments to Enhance Oral Care for Children

Cermak, Sharon Andrea

Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as well as many typically developing children, exhibit sensory over-responsivity in response to the bright lights, sounds, and touch at the dental office, making dental care challenging for such populations. In this study we will test an intervention that alters the sensory characteristics of he dental environment in order to decrease children's physiological anxiety and negative responses during oral care and contribute to increased child comfort as well as safer, more efficient, and less costly treatment. If successful, this intervention has the potential to revolutionize clinic-based dental care for the growing population of children with ASD, as well as for typically developing children with dental anxiety and/or sensory over-responsivity.

Down Syndrome Publications