It is known that autistic people have more pain tolerance than their neurotypical counterparts. There is a reality that I have endured more discomfort than many in my life and do not signify pain to someone unless it is severe or concerning. In the end, it is more about education and knowing when to look for signs when something is more of a concern and learning how to apply remedies when necessary.

There is a reality that some things cannot be taken care of immediately and therefore it is important to catch onto things early on. A few months ago, I realized that I needed to get to a dentist after many years of not having my teeth like I should have. Many of the places that I had gone to were not meeting my needs, causing me to step across the county line and find more specific care. Thankfully, I have found a dentist that is not too far from home, but at this point I have only had a consultation. I am planning to get some fillings next month and I am not on the cleaning list until late 2025.

This is the reality of having special dental needs in the real world. It can seem weird that you must wait that long for care, but that is how it is . Therefore, it is important to realize catch issues and symptoms of something early on so you can get it addressed in time. I had not realized that I would not be able to get my teeth cleaned at that initial appointment or that I would have to wait that long for service, but I have waited for this long, so what is a little more of a wait.

The pain at this point is not as severe as I know that it could be. I know I must be on point with my dental care more, of which I strive as humanly as possible to follow through with my oral healthcare, so the situation has not worsened since my consultation. I am grateful for good health insurance so the issues that need to be addressed can be addressed.

However, being able to realize that I am in discomfort is not always easy to recognize for me, but when it does, I try to remedy the simple things on my own before realizing that things are more challenging and to seek out advice or assistance from others. I am one that realizes that early prevention is key to some things and that being honest when asked about things is key so that they can be addressed, regardless of any social barriers that I may experience along the way. I have been blessed with many medical professionals who are willing to listen to me and know that when I have something to say, that it is serious.

In the end, I know that recognition of pain isn’t always easy for autistic people like me, but knowing how and when to look for the signs to have things addressed is key in ensuring that I am on the path to making sure that things are taken care of in a timely manner and do not surmount to things that are could be worse than what they are had I not addressed them.