"Sorrisi Speciali" project
The Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences has been involved for years in the "Sorrisi Speciali" project with the aim of creating an innovative approach model that improves the experience of care in the chair for children with autism spectrum disorders, thanks to the involvement of a team of specialized hygienists and dentists, composed of 3 dentists, 1 dental hygienist and 1 educator / pedagogist working in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and for Special-Need Patients of the DAI Head of the AOU Policlinico Umberto I (under the direction of prof. Antonella Polimeni and the responsibility of prof. Maurizio Bossù).
The team adopts an educational-sensory method that makes the doctor and patient relationship possible, making use of alternative communication techniques (Alternative Communications) by increasing each particular and singular of patient suffering from autism spectrum disorders, all through the precious contribution of families. Through the educational model and thanks to the synergistic action between Pedagogy and Dentistry, it is possible to perform minimal intervention dental interventions, such as tartar ablations, minimal carious lesions and as well as check-ups and preventive therapy, without resorting to the operating room under general anesthesia.
From the environments to the operative techniques, up to the choice of treatment times and reference operators, fixed and non-replaceable to give continuity to the relationship that must be established between doctor and patient, everything is studied for the collaboration of the child with autism spectrum disorders.
The team, in order to encourage direct and fast communication with the caregivers, has set up a reference email for communications and requests for visits:
The Department of Odontostomatological and Maxillofacial Sciences has become a point of reference for patients with autism spectrum disorder, also thanks to the active collaboration with associations of relatives of autistic children:
Associazione Nazionale Genitori Soggetti Autistici-ANGSA (http://angsa.it/)
Associazione “Amici di via dei Sabelli Onlus” (https://www.amiciviadeisabelli.org/)
Gruppo Asperger Onlus (https://www.asperger.it/)
Onlus “L'emozione non ha voce” (https://www.lemozionenonhavoce.info/)