Providing Specialized Care for Your Child with Special Needs
Special needs dentistry is a way for individuals who have special needs to seek care in a supportive and compassionate environment. At Distinctive Dental Services of New York, P.C., we have created an environment that provides additional accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We understand that these patients can be more susceptible to oral trauma, gum disease, and tooth decay. That is why our board-certified pediatric dental specialists will give your child a thorough examination in a calming space that will allow us to understand and address their specific dental needs. When you take your child to see a special needs dentist like the ones on our team, you will experience the following benefits:
- Close collaboration with your child’s other healthcare providers
For children with special needs, all of their healthcare concerns intersect, including their dental care. Prior to your appointment, we will consult with you about any specific priorities you and your child may have. We will also be in communication with their primary care physician in order to ensure that each need continues to be addressed after the child leaves our office.
- Accommodation for families in the way that makes them most comfortable
Dental fear is quite a common experience. It’s not exclusive to children with special needs, or even to children. In fact, many adults experience dental fear as well. For all of our patients with dental fear, we make whatever accommodations are necessary in order for them to feel the most comfortable.
For a child with special needs, we know that parent involvement is of the utmost importance. If you are a parent who values this collaborative effort, you can be involved to the extent that is best for your family. If that means your child sits on your lap during the appointment, we will do our best to make that happen. No matter what steps are required to put your child at ease, we will keep the lines of communication open with your family so that you always stay informed on the progress of their dental health.
- Consideration for their medications and dietary needs
Certain medications can interfere with a child’s oral health, as can certain dietary restrictions that tend to be placed on children with special needs. For example, we have seen some children who eat mainly pureed foods, which can stick to their teeth and cause decay over time. At Distinctive Dental Services of New York, P.C., we treat each child on a case-by-case basis, and make sure to take these concerns into account as we carefully monitor their oral health journey. Our goal is to make sure their oral health does not suffer, while empowering your family to continue caring for their health as a whole.
- Valuable oral health lessons that they can carry with them for a lifetime
Of course, the day-to-day experiences of each child with special needs is going to look a little different. Some might be able to brush their teeth with ease, while others might have physical limitations that give them difficulty doing so. When you visit our office, we will accommodate those limitations and guide you and your child through the best ways to address them. When your loving, at-home care is matched with our dental expertise, there will be no need for your child’s oral health to suffer because of a disability.
- Dental care that doesn’t require a chair
Many of our patients use wheelchairs or require additional space to transfer to a dental chair. We are able to meet the needs of these patients by using a portable X-ray machine called a Nomad Pro 2, which allows us to take digital radiographs without requiring the patient to be in a dental chair. An added benefit of these X-rays is that they are digital, so they emit 90% less radiation than conventional X-rays.
Getting Ready for Your First Visit
If your child has had negative experiences in the past while visiting the dentist, our goal is to replace those difficult memories with happy ones. Our warm and welcoming environment is designed to make your child feel so comfortable in our office that they might even be excited for their next visit. We want to make oral care as stress-free as possible for them, and make them feel proud knowing that they are doing something good for themselves. Whether you have struggled to find the right dentist in the past, or you are looking to schedule their first visit, we encourage you to prepare them for the road ahead and let them know we are here to support them. Our team is made up of experts in special needs dentistry, and we would love to use that expertise to make your family’s oral care journey a positive one.
To learn more about our special needs dentistry services, call our office at (516) 207-0897, or contact us online. We look forward to creating a friendly and accommodating atmosphere for you and your family.