Key Benefits Of Choosing A Special Needs Dentist For Your Child

If you have a child with special needs, finding the right dentist can be difficult. The best option is to find a dentist who specializes in treating children with physical, cognitive, and developmental challenges, such as Dr. Ben Liu and the team at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry. By choosing a special needs dentist, you can set your child up for success. 

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Special needs dentists can provide care in a more comfortable environment, make the process less stressful, and ensure that your little one gets the personalized care they need. Read on to learn more about special needs dentistry, how it works, and its benefits for children and their parents, too!

What Is Special Needs Dentistry? Understanding The Basics

Special needs dentistry focuses on treating children and adults who have special needs, including physical, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities. Most special needs dentists are also pediatric dentists, but can typically treat patients of all ages.

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To become a pediatric dentist, a dentist must undergo two or three years of additional postgraduate training. This typically involves hands-on experience with treating special needs children, as well as learning strategies on how to manage behavior, protect their oral health, manage anxiety, and much more.

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Thanks to this training, special needs dentists are able to provide a high standard of care for patients who may not be able to easily get treatment at a traditional dental office. This is extremely important, since special needs patients are much more likely to develop dental health issues like cavities and gum disease.

How Special Needs Care Works – A Tailored Treatment Approach

Special needs dentists don’t just provide one-size-fits-all care. Instead, a special needs dentist will customize your child’s plan based on their unique cognitive, physical, and behavioral needs. Here’s an example of how this approach works:

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• Learning about your child’s health and needs – Before your child’s first checkup, a pediatric dentist like Dr. Ben Liu will take the time to learn about their unique needs. This includes the specifics about their special needs, medications they're taking, past surgeries, and other information about your child’s health history.
• Comprehensive oral exam – The next step is to schedule a comprehensive oral exam at SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry. Your child’s pediatric dentist will perform an in-depth assessment of their oral health, and help you understand how their special needs may contribute to their risk of cavities, gum disease, and other oral health conditions.
  
  
• Accommodations and accessibility – There are lots of steps that special needs dentists can take to help kids with special needs feel more welcome. For example, if your child has sensory issues, we may be able to turn off music, turn down the lights, or even provide your child with sunglasses or headphones to help them feel more comfortable.
• Anxiety management solutions – Special needs dentists like Dr. Liu are trained on how to manage anxiety in kids using communication techniques and a variety of other strategies. Sedation is also an option for children who are very scared of the dentist, or for kids who may have trouble staying still or understanding why they need dental treatment.
  
  
• Personalized treatment plans – Special needs dentists can develop a personalized plan based on your child’s unique needs. For example, if your little one has thin enamel, they may need more frequent teeth cleanings and additional treatments like dental sealants or fluoride treatments.

Managing Dental Anxiety In Special Needs Children

Dental anxiety is common in all children, but it occurs nearly twice as often in patients with special needs. One of the biggest benefits of visiting a special needs dentist is that they can help kids with dental anxiety get dental care in a more comfortable environment. Here are just a few of the strategies that dentists use for dental anxiety management in special needs patients:

Desensitization visits

Many special needs dentists offer desensitization visits. In these visits, kids can visit the office, take a tour, and even interact with their dentist to learn a little bit more about dental care. These visits make the dentist’s office feel less scary, and help kids with special needs feel less anxious when it’s time for a real dental appointment.

Patient education

Dentistry is less scary when kids understand what’s going on! As part of your child’s treatment, their pediatric dentist can explain the basics of dental care and make treatment less intimidating. 

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You can help, too! Watching YouTube videos, checking out books about dentistry from the library, and educating your child about dentistry before their visit can make the process much less intimidating!

A calm, child-friendly environment

At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we understand how challenging dental visits can be for patients with special needs and their parents, too. That’s why we do our best to provide a welcoming and positive environment for your child. We will treat your little one with the patience, grace, and love that they deserve.

Sedation dentistry

Sedation dentistry is a great choice for special needs patients. Sedation is great for treating dental anxiety, keeping your child still during complex procedures, and helping with behavior management. At SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry, we offer a variety of sedation options including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), oral conscious sedation, and deep IV sedation. During your visit with one of our special needs dentists, you can learn more about each option and which one may be right for your little one.

How Special Needs Dentists Communicate With Kids

Communication difficulties can cause a lot of stress for patients with special needs. But with the right techniques and strategies, special needs dentists can effectively communicate with your child, help them understand the importance of dentistry, and make them feel less fearful and anxious.

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For example, a special needs dentist for kids with autism may recommend that parents use social stories to teach children the importance of oral hygiene and dental visits. These narratives help children with autism spectrum disorder understand each situation in more detail and feel less anxious about getting checkups and other dental care.

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The “Tell-Show-Do” approach is also very helpful for children with autism, especially for introducing them to new dental tools or specific techniques. For example, a dentist may start by “Telling” your child about a dental mirror, explaining what it is, and why it’s being used. Then, they will “Show” your child the mirror and give a demonstration about how it’s used. Finally, the dentist will “Do” the action and use the dental mirror to look at your child’s tooth.

Visit SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry For Special Needs Care

If you’re looking for pediatric dental care for your special needs child in Washington, DC, SuperKids Pediatric Dentistry is here to help. With five locations throughout the DC Metro area, we offer special needs care for patients of all ages.

Led by Dr. Ben Liu, our dental team loves serving kids with special needs. We take the time to learn about your child, understand their unique challenges, and provide truly personalized care that will keep their mouths healthy as they grow. Contact us online to book an appointment in Alexandria, Rockville, Potomac, Sterling, or Mt. Vernon today!