Patient Management
Elizabeth D. Friedman, DMD (she/her/hers)
Resident
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine / CHOP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Morgan Morrow, DDS
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Maria F. Velasco, DMD, MSEd, MS
Assistant Professor, Director of Pre-Doctoral Pediatric Dental Program
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Evlambia Hajishengallis, DDS, DMD, MSc, PhD
Division Chief of Pediatric Dentistry and Director of the Postdoctoral Pediatric Program at Penn Den
University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Purpose: The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of a pre-visit dental video on the ability of patients with ASD to obtain radiographs during routine visits in the dental clinic with the aim of minimizing the need for sedation/general anesthesia if no caries were observed.
Methods: A video of a dentist providing care using different instruments (mirror and explorer) was created. Parents were contacted via phone and if consented to participate in the study were emailed an online link of the video to be viewed prior to the dental visit. The first visit aimed to complete an examination, prophy and fluoride treatment. A few weeks later, the patient returned to attempt radiographs. Behavioral ratings were noted after both visits using the Frankl scale.
Results: To date, thirty children ranging from ASD level 1 to 3 participated in the study. Overall, 70% of all patients were able to obtain radiographs. ASD level 1 patients had the most success in completing treatment (100%), followed by ASD level 2 patients (87%) and ASD level 3 patients (45%).
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the effectiveness of a pre-visit dental video on the achievement of radiographs for patients with ASD, particularly those with mild (level 1) and moderate (level 2) classifications. Further study is needed to define this recommendation, but our preliminary results show the potential value of this intervention.