Finding a Dentist for Your Child with Special Needs

Posted on September 22, 2022 | First Time | Hot Topics

Finding a specialized dentist for your child with special health care needs is a must. This will help your child feel more at ease as a well-trained professional with a kid-friendly approach examines and cares for their teeth. Let’s take a look at special needs dentistry and how the Blossom team can help.

According to the Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children with special health care needs are children with chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. These children typically have limitations in performing daily activities and often require more extensive dental and medical services. Some conditions that we see in our office include cleft lip or palate, neurological disorders, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, hemophilia, vision impairments, autism, hearing impairments, as well as learning and developmental disabilities.

Common Dental Problems in Patients With Special Health Care Needs

Children with special health care needs or disabilities are more likely to develop dental problems. Often times, sensory challenges can lead to oral sensitivity. Specific high-sugar medications, diet restrictions, and difficulty eating can lead to dental gum disease as well as cavities. Some children with special needs or disabilities may also have trouble brushing, flossing, or communicating toothaches or dental problems with you. And other children may have difficulty opening their mouths completely due to problems with jaw development. 

We address many of the concerns of dental care for individuals with special needs as our standard practice. This includes the prevention and treatment of cavities. However, there are several common dental concerns that children with special health care needs are more at risk for such as delays in tooth eruption, missing or crooked teeth, developmental defects, teeth grinding, tooth decay, gum disease, overcrowding, misaligned bite, overgrowth of gum tissue, dry mouth, and oral infections. 

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist for Your Child With Special Health Care Needs

All pediatric dentists are trained in the care of patients with special needs. Following dental school, pediatric dentists have an additional 2-3 years of specialized training in areas such as child psychology and development as well as addressing anxiety related to dental visits.

From infancy to adolescence, we are devoted to helping children take care of their own oral health. This is more than just dental check-ups and cleanings. Our goal is to make your child as comfortable as possible. 

We provide a social story and sensory checklist to prepare for your visit. This social story allows for your child to get a small glimpse into what they’ll experience in our office. Preparation and familiarization are essential to helping your child with special health care needs feel comfortable in visiting our office. 

Our Blossom team is more than happy to work with you and your child’s specific needs. We will make the necessary adjustments to make everyone as comfortable as possible. Before your appointment, you’ll have the opportunity to fill out our Supplemental Health Questionnaire, which will allow our team to understand your child’s specific needs and how we can be most accommodating for your child. Our goal is that every child would leave our office happy and with a great dental experience. 

Special Health Care Needs at Blossom

Every child is unique and has particular dental requirements. Caring for children with special needs requires compassion, patience, and understanding. No matter what type of disabilities your child has, we’re here to help! If you have questions or concerns about your child’s needs and the dental care they receive, call us today at (734) 971-3368!