New toolkit and training aim to ease tooth brushing struggles for kids with autism
NCT ID NCT03003221
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested two ways to improve dental care for children with autism. One group received a dental toolkit with tips and resources. The other group got the toolkit plus special parent training to help with brushing and dentist visits. The goal was to see if the extra training made tooth brushing easier and improved oral health. The trial included 119 children ages 3 to 13 from families with low income.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- AIR-P Dental Toolkit and parent training (behavioral intervention)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could help families manage dental care more easily, reducing oral health problems in children with autism.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed trial with 119 participants, so results are limited in scope. The intervention may not work for all children or settings.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
119 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
-
Dec 2016
- Finished
-
Jun 2019
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
3 to 13 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * English-speaking families of children ages 3 to 13 years and 11 months. * Current diagnosis of ASD confirmed by baseline assessment. * Parent-reported difficulty participating in dental care. * Confirmed absence of dental screenings or exams/visits within the previous 6 months. * Underserved status as defined by Medicaid eligibility. Exclusion Criteria: * Children who present with an acute dental condition requiring emergency treatment. * Children who are currently taking, or have recently discontinued, medications that affect oral and gingival health. * Anything that, in the opinion of the Site Principal Investigator, would place the subject at unwarranted risk or materially reduce their contribution to the trial's aims due to inability or refusal to adhere to trial procedures and follow-up. Families will be asked to refrain from participating in any non-study adaptive behavior interventions or therapies focused on dental hygiene. Families will also be asked not to participate in any non-study dental screenings or exams for the duration of the investigation.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Autism spectrum disorder are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, 43081, United States
-
University of California Irvine
Irvine, California, 92705, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Gut bacteria may hold clues to dozens of diseases
- Can a tailored therapy ease anxiety and depression in autistic teens?
- Can coaching school staff raise the quality of autism programs?
- Can wireless monitors make ER vitals easier for autistic children?
- Why do some children with autism struggle with balance?
- Brain zaps tested to calm emotional storms in autism