How Do Dentists Support Kids With Special Needs?

 

As any parent, sibling, aunt, uncle and grandparent knows, not only are kids different from adults, but every kid is very different from every other kid. That’s especially true amongst families with children affected by special needs. Pediatric dentists understand the difference between kids and adults, and between children themselves. Those dentists have been trained to understand and appreciate those differences, and in how to provide comfortable, safe and effective treatment to every unique child at any age.

What special training do kids’ dentists receive?

Kids’ dentists in Spruce Grove complete a two-year residency program focusing on the dental needs of children. That’s after completing a four-year degree program in general dentistry. During those two additional years of training to treat children, childrens’ dentists near you learn:

• Diagnostic and surgical techniques especially for children
• Child psychology and development
• Dental pharmacology (drug treatment) including delivery and dosage requirements unique to kids
• Radiology techniques
• Trauma management and treatment
• Conscious sedation and general anesthesia
• Special needs dentistry for children 

At Blossom Family Dental Care, our entire staff team — including receptionists, assistants, hygienists, technicians and dentists — understands the special concerns of parents and families about caring for and respecting children’s special needs. While no article like this can anticipate and describe the careful and caring steps taken to support every child and her unique needs, we can provide an example of the conscientious approach taken to every such situation.

“Sensory integration” is the process by which people of all ages — infants, kids, teens, adolescents and seniors — use their five senses to collect information and stimuli from the environment and how they process and use that information as they move through that environment. What’s essential to remember is that many people integrate those five senses very differently than other people. Some people, for example, are sensory “seekers” while others are sensory “avoiders.” The difference between seekers and avoiders is essential for parents and caregivers to understand, especially but not exclusively while supporting children with sensory issues or who may experience autism spectrum disorders.

Sensory seekers gravitate toward and generally eagerly consume sensory input, sometimes from some senses more than others. While every kid can be nervous about going to the dentist — especially for the first time — kids who are sensory seekers find adapting to the environment at a dental clinic in Spruce Grove easier than kids who can be described as sensory avoiders.

Sensory avoiders is a term used to describe kids — not just kids, but kids to be sure — who find external stimuli overwhelming or irritating. Sometimes, the irritation flows from one or a couple senses, or from the sheer volume of stimulation in the first place. For sensory avoiders whose needs have not been taken into account in advance, a trip to the dentist can be even more challenging, frustrating and traumatic than it would otherwise be. If you’ve discussed your kid’s particular needs with a pediatric dentist near you in advance, though, they can take steps to minimize those challenges, frustrations and trauma by adjusting the amount of stimulation present in the environment. Here’s how:

• Take a tour of the office well in advance of your appointment to identify anything that might be of particular concern
• Your dentist in Spruce Grove may be able to offer special appointment times when there are fewer people (and thus sights and sounds present) in the clinic
• Your dentist may be able to provide an extended appointment slot to allow for longer opportunity to adjust
•  Ask your dentist about the availability of sedation dentistry if that’s appropriate for your child
• Private appointment rooms, entrances, exits and waiting rooms may be made available
• Your dentist and their staff may be able to provide simple things like sunglasses, noise-elimination headphones, weighted blankets, soothing sounds, decluttered spaces and light-reduced environments
• Ask your dentist about bringing soothing things like blankets, teddy bears etc. with your child

Your dentist is committed to ensuring your child gets the care she needs — comfortably and safely. Whatever your child’s special needs, contact your dentist to discuss how they can support your family.