How Can Your Dentist Help?
Children with special needs may have a variety of oral health problems. Problems with jaw development can make it difficult for them to open their mouths all the way, which can make it difficult for teeth to be brushed and flossed properly and thoroughly. Other children may not like the sensation of having a toothbrush in the mouth. And, although many children are frightened of going to the dentist, this feeling can be even more intense in children with special needs. All of this can put a child with special needs more at risk for tooth decay, gum disease, missing teeth, crowded teeth, and poor alignment of the upper and lower teeth.
Preventive care can do a lot to help keep your child’s teeth healthy. Home care is extremely important, of course, but so are visits to the dentist. Ideally, the first visit should be by the first birthday, so that the dentist can start to monitor your child’s teeth and any signs of future problems and also so that the dentist and your child can have a chance to form a comfortable, positive relationship right from the beginning. Your dentist will also work with you to create a home care dental routine that both you and your child can be happy with.
It is especially important to get a dentist who has experience working with not only children but special needs children. Your child’s dentist should not only be knowledgeable about dentistry but also about know how to work with children and ready to answer your questions and address all of your concerns. If you have a child with special needs, it is important to choose the right dental office, with a staff that will do everything it can to make your child (and you) comfortable. Contact Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry in Pound Ridge, New York, at 914-468-4759 for an appointment today!
