Special Needs Dentistry – Northampton, MA | Amherst, MA | Greenfield, MA

Special Needs Present Unique Oral Challenges

Children of all ages benefit from regular oral healthcare. Professional checkups and cleanings are essential if healthy teeth and gums are to be maintained; however, those with intellectual or physical disabilities can experience unique challenges related to their dental health, including:

• Enamel erosion or dental damage caused by teeth grinding (bruxism), which can occur among children with behavioral disorders.
• Poor oral hygiene routines that include brushing and flossing because of a cognitive or physical disability that makes it difficult to maneuver.
• Late tooth eruption or missing teeth, which is more prevalent in children with Down syndrome or other similar conditions.

With the help of a trusted professional who can provide special needs dentistry, though, you can give your child or teen the chance to enjoy a healthier, fully functional smile year after year. Our team can identify problems early on and make appropriate treatment recommendations to minimize the chances of serious or painful issues in the future.

How Do We Help Our Patients with Special Needs Feel Comfortable?

At Treehouse Pediatric Dentistry, we want to make sure your child remains completely comfortable while in our care, which is why we make every effort to provide the accommodations they need. This means we will need to sit down and talk with you about their unique condition. You can share with us any of your concerns, which we will happily address, before going over what we can do to minimize any fear or uncertainty surrounding your child’s appointment.

After determining what kind of approach is required, we will discuss the possibility of incorporating dental sedation into their visit. This can help alleviate many of the common anxieties or fears children experience, no matter what kind of physical, intellectual, or behavioral disability they might have.

We are pleased to offer three options – nitrous oxide, local anesthesia, and hospital dentistry – each of which will be discussed extensively to determine which method is best for your child.

Dental Tips for Our Patients with Special Needs

Since the challenges children with intellectual and physical disabilities can face are many, our team is here to provide helpful tips to make oral healthcare easier and more manageable for your family. They include:

• Routine Checkups & Cleanings: Tremblay and our team will need to see your child every six months (or more frequently) for dental checkups and cleanings. This allows us to closely monitor any changes in their oral health and identify early signs of decay, gum disease, and bite misalignment. We’ll also discuss ways to make brushing and flossing at home more fun and engaging.
• Using Appropriate Products for Teeth & Gums: Depending on your child’s needs, they may brush and floss their teeth better with certain products. Our dentists can recommend those that allow for a tighter grip, feel more comfortable to teeth and soft oral tissues, and identify flavors that may be more enjoyable for your child while brushing.
• Incorporate Fluoride: Once your child is the appropriate age and doesn’t appear to gag or swallow toothpaste, start using fluoride products to better protect their teeth. You can also ask our team when it might be the right time to start adding this to your child’s oral hygiene routine.
• Establish Good Habits Early: Don’t wait until your child is school-age to bring them in to see our team. Instead, start these visits early on. Doing so will help them become more comfortable with the people in our office as well as their surroundings. It will also help us to establish a baseline so that we can closely monitor their oral health as it develops over time.