When you have a child with special needs that needs dental treatment, just the thought of dealing with the potential risks and unknown environment can feel overwhelming for any caregiver. Children with special needs require special care and an understanding perspective. One of the biggest hurdles for both the child and caregiver can be knowing what to expect, so in this post we break down the accommodations and considerations that any pediatric dentist working with special needs children should be making to promote a positive experience and outcome.
Total Collaboration
A good pediatric dentist will always collaborate with all medical providers of their special needs patients to get the full picture of the child’s current health status and risk factors. This will always include the child’s pediatrician and mental health providers, but may also involve assistive device suppliers, pharmacy personnel, education providers, and more. The pediatric dentist will review the information from all of these sources and solicit clarifying information when necessary before developing a treatment plan.
Modified Communication
Communication barriers are a common issue with special needs children, so the pediatric dentist will make accommodations to modify their communication methods to best suit the child’s needs. This may include using assistive communication devices, sign language, communicating through a trusted caregiver, or other communication methods to help the child understand what is happening and gather feedback.
Behavior Considerations
For children with behavior issues, pediatric dentists must take special care to protect not just the patient, but also themselves, other staff, and caregivers. While all efforts to calm problematic behaviors will be made with the least invasive methods possible, some children are unable to deal with the stress of dental procedures and will require more intensive intervention, whether physical or pharmaceutical. Any intervention plan should be developed in close collaboration with the child’s medical providers to ensure continuity of care and the best results.
Sensory Adaptations
Sensory sensitivities are common in special needs children, so pediatric dentists should always try to limit sensory disruptions and promote a sensory-friendly environment. This may involve offering noise-canceling headphones to minimize sounds, turning down unnecessary lighting or providing tinted eyewear, trying to limit unusual smells, or offering comforting tactile items such as stuffed animals, squishies, putty, or fidget toys. These items are great options to ease anxiety in all children.
Adaptive Devices
Just like many special needs children use assistive devices to communicate more clearly, dentists also have devices they can use that are specially adapted to those with specific physical needs. From mouth props to toothbrushes with special grips, there are many adaptive dental devices available to make dental care easier for special needs patients.
Anxiety Management
Dental anxiety is quite common in the general population, but when dealing with a patient who is already highly sensitive to change and new environments, anxiety takes on a whole new intensity. To make matters worse, special needs children often lack the receptive communication skills to understand the need for unfamiliar events or places, making it difficult to calm their nerves. Pediatric dentists have several anxiety management techniques at their disposal to help special needs children feel safe and comfortable at the dentist’s office, from sensory-friendly toys and music all the way up to sedation. Careful collaboration with caregivers and medical providers is needed to develop the best anxiety management plan for each patient.
Emergency Planning
All dental patients should have emergency contact information on file with their dentist, but for special needs children, the emergency plan needs to be more robust. Along with contact information for caregivers, medical providers, and the preferred hospital, the emergency plan should also include diagnoses, current medications, known behavior issues, and more. This will give the patient the very best chance of a positive outcome should an emergency arise and they need quick care from emergency personnel.
Focus on Prevention
A focus on prevention of dental issues is a must for special needs children, since they often cannot deal with extensive dental procedures without medical sedation, which comes with its own set of risks. Brushing and flossing morning, night, and after each meal, avoiding hard, acidic, or sugary foods, and receiving routine dental exams and cleanings is crucial. When dental problems do arise, they should be treated as early as possible so that the least invasive methods can be used. Prevention often hinges more on the caregiver’s ability to establish a dental routine, meaning caregiver buy-in is a must.
Compassionate Care
No matter what dental issues the pediatric patient is dealing with, all pediatric dentists must operate with compassionate care as a core tenet. Special needs children require even more patience and flexibility than most. While it can be frustrating to deal with communication barriers or behavior problems, the competent pediatric dentist must handle these situations with tact, empathy, and humility to be a truly effective provider.
Frequently Asked Questions About Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry
My child has special needs and doesn't sit well in a dental chair. Should I still bring him regularly or just when there's a problem?
Even if your child doesn’t do well sitting in the dental chair, we still recommend that you bring them in at least twice each year for an examination and cleaning. We will make the necessary modifications to make your child as comfortable and relaxed as possible and still do what is needed to ensure good dental health.
Why do you recommend coming twice per year when my insurance only covers once per year?
While some insurance companies only cover one preventive visit per year, it is very important for special needs children to visit twice each year to do as much as possible to keep the teeth clean and healthy. This will prevent dental issues that can easily arise and proliferate between annual visits, such as extensive plaque and tartar buildup, gum recession, impactions, cavities, and more.
Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry in the Southern Boston Metro
For a special needs pediatric dentist that checks all of the above boxes, look no further than Greater Boston Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Quincy, MA. Our training and experience working with special needs children means we have the skills and techniques to provide high-quality dental care while also taking-those special needs into consideration.
Schedule an appointment with us by calling 1-617-472-5437 (KIDS) or requesting an appointment online. Together, we can make your special needs child feel as comfortable, safe, and understood as possible while also ensuring they have great dental health for life.