It’s the dental care for people with special needs like down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, or any developmental or cognitive delay.
Generally, children with special needs have associated medical issues so dental care always takes a back seat.
People with special needs require extra support, love n care for catering to their dental issues and prevention of oral problems.
Why children or adults with special needs require extra support!? Children and adults with special needs may have a wide range of oral difficulties.
Some may have problems with the eruption and formation of teeth and the jaw structure.
Some may present with difficulty in chewing food due to poor muscular or neuro control.
Some may have difficulty in stimulation of Saliva production.
The biggest challenge for oral care of such people is the establishment of proper communication system.
Non verbal or non expressive kids or adults may not be able to pin point their area of discomfort in mouth. Therefore it becomes imperative that parents should be made aware of early prevention and timely check ups by the dentist .
Sensory sensitivities and mobility issues can further impact the oral care.
Various tips given to parents
Start early: Begin oral care routine as early as possible and time the first dental visit around one year…it makes child accustomed to dental care very early on and help s keep the dental anxiety at bay.
Choose the right dentist: search in your local area for a trained specialist dentist who can understand the special needs of the child and willing to provide customized treatment.
Create a consistent routine: consistency brings results and enhances predictability.so children with special needs love routine and comply well. Daily reinforcement for oral care like brushing, flossing can bring very good results.
Positive reinforcement: Small rewards and appreciation further motivate the child to be on track with oral care.
Open communication with the dentist: always strive for discussing any sensitivity issues or special accomodation to be made while treating your child in dental chair.it helps in allaying the anxiety on both sides.
Dental treatment for special needs is doable in dental chair. Only some cases may need general anaesthesia to address to their oral health.