Dental Care for Special Needs
By Austria Cohn
It might feel like a war zone when it’s that time of night, and you’re telling your child to go brush and floss their teeth. You might hear the common whining complaints, like “Whyyyy?” or “I don’t want to,” in the rush to get them out the door and to school on time. Yet, parents who have a child with special needs run into several other obstacles and challenges when trying to maintain their child’s oral health. Parents with children with special needs have a lot of battles to overcome, and oral health is one of them that might be difficult but is necessary. Oral health is connected in many ways to the overall health of the body, so it’s vital to maintain a daily routine to keep your child’s teeth, gums, mouth, and jaw healthy. If you’re a parent who is feeling lost, angry, frustrated, or running out of steam when it comes to brushing your special needs child’s teeth, here are a few tips and things to keep in
mind when finding the right dentist that will be patient, kind, and caring to your child. “We’re not trying to treat them when they’re in pain. We want to keep them from that,” says Dr. Timothy Delcambre. “That’s what’s most important.” Accommodating For Special Needs When typing into Google “Dentists Near Me,” chances are you won’t find an office that truly accommodates your special needs child. You need a dentist who is patient, adaptive, and kind. For some patients, especially with autism, timing and routine are very important, and when that’s disrupted, it can be very difficult for the child to cope. At Dr. Delcambre’s office, they will schedule patients when it’s most convenient and comfortable for them. Their office is also wheelchair accessible. Patience is another essential facet when finding
the right dentist for your child. Getting work done at the dentist can be painful, uncomfortable, and scary, so having a patient, kind, and caring doctor can make the experience better for your child. Depending on the patient, Dr. Delcambre will go slowly with the treatment. Every child is different, so it’s also imperative for the doctor to see their medical history prior to their first visit. When Board Certified Pediatric Dentist Patrick Bowman and his team receive a phone call from a parent of a child with autism, Down syndrome, sensory difficulties, etc., the team will go through a detailed questionnaire with the parent. “We try to find those trigger points, and then on their visit, we try to set up the environment to be conducive as best as we can,” Dr. Bowman says. Many children can also benefit from the dentist explaining what will happen beforehand.
24 OCTOBER 2023 | NOLAFAMILY.COM
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