If you’re looking for a special needs dentist in the DC Metro area, Dr. Ben Liu and the doctors at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry are here to help. Whether your child has autism, sensory processing issues, Down’s syndrome, or any other special needs, our dental team is here to help.
Thanks to their specialized training and years of experience, our dentists understand that every child with special needs is unique. That’s why we take the time to get to know you and your little one, assess their medical and mental condition, and provide truly custom-tailored care. With two offices in Alexandria, VA, one in Sterling, VA, one in Rockville, MD, and one in Potomac, MD, we provide convenient special needs care throughout the entire DC Metro.
Special needs dentists are qualified to treat both kids and adults who have unique physical, developmental, behavioral, or sensory needs. Pediatric dentists typically receive training on treating special needs children throughout their postgraduate residency.
This involves using different treatment techniques to keep special needs patients comfortable, learning about different genetic disorders and how they affect oral health, how to communicate effectively with special needs patients and parents, and many other topics.
Sedation, in particular, is a major part of special needs care. Special needs dentists learn the latest techniques on how to sedate patients with special needs safely, and make sure they feel comfortable and can get the expert care they need without fear, anxiety, or trauma.
Often, it can be difficult to get proper treatment for children with special needs from a family dentist or even some pediatric practices. Some dentists may be uncomfortable treating children with developmental disorders, lack the necessary training to sedate a child with a physical disorder like multiple sclerosis, or have trouble getting kids with autism or sensory disorders to cooperate with their care.
That’s where special needs dentistry comes in. At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, our pediatric dentists for special needs offer care for children of all ages, with all types of disabilities and developmental challenges. From autism and ADHD to blindness, Down syndrome, and more, our team is uniquely trained and equipped to provide the care your little one needs. This reduces stress both for children and their parents, too. We know that it can be a struggle to find a practice where you and your child feel accepted and are treated with patience, grace, and compassion.
But at our offices in the DC area, everyone is welcome. Not only that, but our team understands the unique physiological and medical challenges that are associated with special needs. From understanding genetic disorders that can compromise oral health to sedating children with special needs safely, we provide expert care for families with children with special needs.
At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we frequently treat children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Once we meet you and your child, we can develop treatment plans that help them get expert care without feeling scared or intimidated.
For example, if your child has autism and is very nervous about dentistry, we can bring them in for familiarization visits where they can explore our office, learn more about dentistry, and become more familiar with the SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry team.
Our dentists for kids with autism also can take any sensory difficulties into account, use visual cues to help explain procedures, split your little one’s treatment into multiple, shorter visits, and more. No matter your child’s needs or preferences, we’re here to provide expert pediatric dental care.
Whether it’s due to physiological differences or difficulties maintaining proper oral hygiene, special needs children are often more prone to cavities and other oral health issues. At our office, we offer a full range of services to keep your child’s smile healthy. From teeth cleanings and oral exams to fillings, crowns, and more, you can trust us to deliver expert care in a comfortable environment where your child can relax.
We offer a full range of sedation options at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry. Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is ideal for children who just need a little bit of help to feel more comfortable. We also offer safe oral conscious sedation and IV deep sedation options. With sedation, your child can sleep through their visit, forget most of their appointment, and enjoy stress-free dental visits.
A healthy mouth starts at home, but we understand that it can be hard for the parents of special needs parents to take care of their children’s mouth. Whether your child is brushing on their own or you’re still brushing for them, we offer personalized guidance, actionable tips, and expert recommendations to help you take better care of your child’s mouth.
At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we always do our best to make special needs children and their parents feel safe and comfortable. Here are just a few of the steps we take to create a welcoming environment for your little one:
From our front office staff to our hygienists, dental assistants, and dentists, everyone on our team has training on how to make children with special needs feel welcomed, desensitize them to the process of dental visits, and make sure that they can get comfortable care in a judgment-free environment.
For children with sensory difficulties, we can take steps to prepare our office including dimming the lights, turning off background music, and providing sunglasses to help with bright lights during treatment. We also offer sensory and fidget tools to help distract children and make them feel more comfortable during treatment.
We understand that parents of children with special needs often have busy schedules, so we do our best to offer flexible scheduling and to accommodate last-minute changes. Depending on your child’s needs, we may even be able to offer early morning or after-hours visits. This ensures a calmer, comfortable, and relaxed environment since there will be fewer staff members and patients.
If they’ve never been to the dentist before, we recommend taking an educational approach. Watch YouTube videos, read children’s books, and look for other resources that help explain the basics of what will happen during their visit.
At their first visit, we also recommend bringing comfort items like blankets or stuffed animals, as well as any activities that your child loves to do. This will help distract them and make them feel more comfortable until it’s time for their visit with a dentist at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry.
Your child’s special needs dentist will check all of their teeth and look at their gums, and take X-rays to look for any signs of oral health issues. The team at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry will also clean, polish, and floss their teeth to keep them healthy and to keep your little one’s smile bright.
Often, dental anxiety can be treated without sedation. Our team can use the latest communication techniques, visual aids, desensitization appointments, and other approaches to help kids with special needs feel less nervous.
However, we also offer a full range of sedation options. Our team has the training and expertise to sedate children with special needs safely, and make sure they can get expert care with less stress and anxiety.
Above all else, our dentists believe in providing patient and compassionate care for children of all needs and abilities. Your little one deserves a lifetime of healthy smiles, and at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, that’s exactly what they’ll get.
We’re proud to serve families with special needs children throughout the DC metropolitan area. With conveniently located 5 different offices in Alexandria, Sterling, Rockville, Mt. Vernon, and Potomac, it’s easy to get the care your child needs. Get in touch with one of our five locations to book your little one’s first visit today.
We can’t wait to meet you! Contact one of our five convenient locations around the DC area.
