Effect of sensory adaptations for routine dental care in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A preliminary study

ABSTRACT

Background: This study examined whether a sensory adapted dental environment (SADE) diminished anxiety and agitation in adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) when compared to a routine dental environment (RDE).

Method: Agitated behaviours (frequency and duration) were video-taped and anxiety-related physiological measures recorded (heart rate [HR] and blood pressure [BP]) during dental treatment in RDE and 6 months later in SADE. An ICC_2,k assessed the reliability of subject behaviours. The impact of treatment condition was compared with paired t-tests and ANCOVAs.

Results: 41 participants, 22 males, aged 47.9 (14.2), were examined; 61% were diagnosed with profound IDD. SADE reduced frequency and duration of agitated behaviours and reduced physiological evidence of agitation (HR and BP) over RDE with p < .004.

Conclusion: This research demonstrated a decrease in frequency and duration of agitated behaviours and smaller changes in HR and BP when dental care is provided in a SADE.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioural control
• dental care
• developmental disabilities
• observational study

Acknowledgements

We thank Carol Erzen, M.Ed, Director of Training at NHS/AVS; Dr James Barbuto, DMD, for his participation and skill in providing the dental care; the NHS/AVS Sensory Core Committee, videographers, and maintenance staff; Susan Kushner, PT, MS, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Physical Therapy, Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock students Cara Colley and Jessica Lucas, Youngstown University students Meghan Teitz and Sarah Truchan for serving as videotape raters; and Tom Marshall from Southpaw Enterprises, Inc. for assisting with custom equipment.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FISA Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.