Sensory issues is probably one of the main anxiety triggers at the dentist for individuals with an ASD. The obvious areas of difficulty will be tactile and auditory. Mouths are extremely sensitive places and for a person with an ASD the sensation of a cold instrument entering their mouth could be very painful. In addition, the noise of the drills and cleaning instruments could also be a problem.

Sometimes the taste of the mouth wash or the paste being used will also have an adverse impact.   It is also important to check whether there are any factors in relation to the dentist as an individual that might cause distress; for example, their perfume, mustache, or the color of their clothing.