If your child has special needs, we request that you inform us ahead of their appointment so we can properly accommodate them. Inform us if they have any sensory issues or require special accommodations.
Children with special needs or dental anxiety can often benefit from visiting the office and meeting Dr. Michael before their actual appointment. This gets them acquainted with the environment and increases trust and comfort.
We offer nitrous oxide and IV sedation for patients who have dental anxiety or special needs. This increases feelings of relaxation, reduces restlessness and stress, and increases cooperation.
Please provide us with any relevant medical information that we should know about and records of their oral health history.
During their dental cleaning, a scaler is used to scrape away plaque and tartar. The teeth are then polished and flossed. We will then apply a fluoride varnish to the teeth to strengthen the enamel.
Afterward, we’ll discuss if we found any signs of oral health problems that require further treatment. If so, we will discuss scheduling follow-up appointments.
Some useful tools in treating patients with special needs are to provide open, honest, and trustworthy dental care by establishing a consistent dental home.
Our Fremont pediatric dentist is an expert in your child’s oral health care and taking them to the same dentist from a young age will reduce dental anxiety and foster positive feelings toward dental care.
We can also offer dental sedation for those with physical disabilities or dental anxiety. If your child requires alteration to the environment in the treatment room, we are happy to make these accommodations.
This may include altering the lighting, changing to a bigger room, allowing them extra time to complete their appointment, and providing them with comforting amenities like noise-canceling headphones and entertainment.
If you can provide us with their relevant medical history so we know what special needs to take into consideration and what medications if any they are taking, this will help guide our treatment practices.
Developmental, physical, or medical conditions that affect your child’s ability to receive traditional dental treatment are considered special needs. This can include something like dental anxiety because it can provide barriers to treatment.
Conditions like Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, epilepsy, visual or hearing impairment, mental health conditions, and brain conditions or injuries are just some examples of special needs.
However, conditions like depression and sleep apnea can also fall under this umbrella term, as people with these conditions have an increased risk of oral health problems that directly correlate with their overall health and may affect our approach to their treatment.
Physical and cognitive conditions may affect their oral health by inhibiting their ability to sit for a dental appointment in a traditional setting. A child with sensory issues, autism, or dental anxiety may feel overwhelmed or stressed by seeing the dentist, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Certain medical conditions can affect your child’s saliva production, cavity risk, susceptibility to gum disease, and ability to eat certain foods. All of these things have a significant impact on their oral health.
The most important thing is for your child to be brushing their teeth twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Other than this, the type of toothbrush they use and the method of brushing their teeth is less important.
If your child has dexterity issues, you may need to brush their teeth for them, assist them, or monitor them. Show them how to hold and use their toothbrush and then instruct them as they do it themselves. Pick out a toothbrush that improves their ability to brush with ease.
This may mean selecting a toothbrush with a larger handle and a smaller head. Let them choose a toothbrush that they like which increases the likelihood that they will want to brush their teeth. Make sure they are using the proper amount of toothpaste for their age.
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