Schedule an appointment with a Kid’s Special Needs Dentist

As soon as a child’s first tooth erupts through the gums, it is time to schedule an appointment with a dentist. While different children may need different approaches to dental procedures, all children deserve the best dental hygiene practices. If your child has special health care needs, a kid's special needs dentist can provide the right tools to keep your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

Special needs children

Special health care needs children tend to have certain lifelong mental, physical, developmental or behavioral conditions. These conditions may lead to other problems associated with tooth development and care. Many children with special needs have teeth that are slow to develop or malformed. Others may have craniofacial abnormalities, leading to jaw problems that carry over to their teeth and gums. Such issues often cause overcrowding and teeth that are hard to care for and keep clean, leading to infections and disease.

It is so important to make dental care just as much of a priority as routine health care. Some children do not receive the dental care they need because their lives are already full of other important medical appointments.

Start at home

The best dental care starts in the home. Even from infancy, a child must be accustomed to a dental care routine that will ensure they are used to having their teeth and gums looked at, touched and cared for. Teeth brushing twice a day should begin as soon as a child’s first tooth erupts. Before that, the gums should be wiped down after feeding. Flossing should also be introduced at this early age.

These rituals can be fun for a child if approached with a happy attitude from the very beginning.

Other ways to improve dental health

Other ways to improve the dental health of a child with special needs is to prevent them from drinking and eating a diet heavy in sodas, juices, acidic foods and drinks and sugary items. Avoiding this type of food and providing a well-balanced diet instead can help keep unhealthy bacteria and decay at bay.

Visiting the dentist

Visiting the dentist can be a frightening experience for any child, as the unusual sights, noises and smells can cause anxiety. As a kid's special needs dentist, we have the means possible to create a calming, friendly and welcoming atmosphere with all the equipment necessary to provide a thorough dental examination and treatment to any child. X-rays, teeth cleaning and routine checkups can all be performed with a parent in the room to make the child feel even more at home.