Development of oral health resources and a mobile app for caregivers and autistic children through consensus building.

Tan et al. (2024) built a free phone app with autistic children and their parents. The app has social stories, picture schedules, and a chat line to the dentist.

Experts and parents tested the app alone and then shared ratings. The team kept the parts families liked and trimmed the rest.

Both experts and parents gave the app high marks after trying it. They said it was easy, useful, and ready for everyday home use.

Nilchian et al. (2017) and da Silva Moro et al. (2024) used short videos to get kids to sit still in the chair. Liang moves the tool from the clinic TV to the parent’s phone and adds a dentist chat.

Lundy et al. (2022) also asked parents to judge a phone app, but for period care. Both studies show parents will use and like home-based tech if visuals are clear and steps are short.

Sharp et al. (2010) taught brushing for 180 days. Liang does not teach brushing; it teaches what will happen before the chair even rolls up, so the two pieces stack instead of clash.

You can hand families this free app today. They can build a story that shows their own child’s name, the exact dentist room, and the order of events. Less surprise often means less meltdown, shorter visits, and fewer canceled appointments.