Recruitment and Enrollment
cleft palate, motor impairment, metabolic dysfunction, disability, autism
CEREBRAL PALSY, DOWN SYNDROME
Child eligibility criteria were Spanish- or English-speaking, aged 6 to 12 years, at least 1 previous dental cleaning, and confirmed autism diagnosis. Exclusionary criteria included current or scheduled orthodontic braces; using anticholinergic medication; sibling of enrolled participant; genetic, endocrine, or metabolic dysfunction (eg, Down syndrome); significant motor impairment (eg, cerebral palsy); significant oral condition (eg, cleft palate); or medical condition placing the child at increased risk in the study (eg, uncontrolled seizures).Families were recruited using a consecutive sampling strategy from an extensive network, including health clinics (eg, CHLA dental clinic), community service providers (eg, developmental disability service providers, resource fairs), therapy and behavioral clinics, patient referrals, parent support groups, social media, and the Los Angeles Unified School District.