title: Autism spectrum disorders: an update on oral health management.
abstract: Dental professionals caring for patients with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will need to provide oral health care based on a family-centered approach that involves a comprehensive understanding of parental concerns and preferences, as well as the unique medical management, behaviors, and needs of the individual patient.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  With the rising prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), oral health providers will find themselves increasingly likely to care for these patients in their daily practice. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive update on the medical and oral health management of patients with autism spectrum disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a literature review by searching for relevant articles written in English in the PubMed database pertaining to the medical and oral health management of autism, including caries status, preventive, behavioral, trauma, and restorative considerations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A detailed family centered approach based on parental preferences and concerns, the patient's challenging behaviors, and related comorbidities can serve to improve the treatment planning and oral health management of dental patients with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. Electronic address: roopa.gandhi@childrenscolorado.org.
authors.forename: Roopa P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gandhi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Children's Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D032763:Behavior Control; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D018677:Tooth Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: Asperger's disorder; Autism; autism dental management; autism spectrum disorder; autistic