Fear of the dentist is common. Many adults are afraid of the dentist. Children with autism may be uncomfortable at the dentist because it is a new situation, they have to sit very still, or they are afraid of the tools or drill. Preparing children ahead of time can ease some anxiety. Learning tips and tricks from parents who have been there can help you make your child more comfortable at the dentist.

On MyAutismTeam, the social network and online support group for parents of kids with autism, members talk about a range of personal experiences and struggles. Dentist visits are one of the top 10 topics most discussed.

Here are some question-and-answer threads about going to the dentist:

• Any tips on first trips to the dentist?
• Any tips for getting through having dental work done?
• Are there any tips for my young son getting a cavity filled? I'm nervous about the shot and the sound of drilling.

Here are some conversations about dentist visits:

• My oldest did awesome my youngest would not let the dentist touch him. Overall they did great.
• Today my son has a dentist appointment. I'm nervous because he has been neglecting his teeth.
• Another Dentist appointment with a meltdown. He won't take x rays or even let them clean his teeth.
• I took Andy for a regular teeth cleaning appointment, and the dentist said, "It looks like he split a back molar and needs to be taken care of immediately". My poor son had been suffering the pain for God knows how long and I didn't catch it; it's heartbreaking.

Can you relate?

Have another topic you'd like to discuss or explore? Go to MyAutismTeam today and start the conversation. You'll be surprised just how many others may share similar stories.

Feel free to ask a question here.