Snodgrass-King Advocates Special Needs Dentistry by Celebrating Autism Awareness Month

Special Needs Dentistry Celebrates Autism Awareness Day

Autism Awareness Day, Special Needs Dentistry

The tenth annual World Autism Awareness Day was held April 2, 2017, and every year autism organizations around the world celebrate the day with unique fundraising and awareness-raising events. This year during Autism Awareness Month, Snodgrassking amplify their support of autism awareness by providing patients with special needs dentistry services.

What Is Special Needs Dentistry?

Special needs dentistry caters to a different segment of patients who are disabled. The patients comprised of “special needs” are patients with physical or mental issues such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, seizures, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, visual and hearing disabilities, and depression. Other patients with special needs include children with dental phobias and patients that require dental procedures immediately and all at once in an emergency situation.

People with special needs require delicate care, more than regular patients. It can be challenging to provide them with proper oral care. This is why they need the help of special care dentists. Special care dentists are trained extensively in handling people with developmental disabilities and those who need special requirements. Even their assistants and office staff undergo training to be able to address the patient’s needs effectively.

Qualities of the Trained Dental Specialists at Snodgrass-King

Dentists who specialize in children’s dentistry are certified by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) to also provide special needs dentistry. They offer a number of dental procedures to patients including teeth examinations, cleanings, fillings, and extractions. They also advise the children on how to do proper oral care.

Patience and Accuracy

A special needs dentist usually tailors his procedures based on the unique needs of a patient.  For pediatric dentistry, the appointment may take longer and are usually slower. The reason for this is the clinic may need a detailed medical history of the patient. For instance, they need to know if the patient is allergic to certain medications. They also need to know if the patient is seeing a medical practitioner regularly. The clinic will also take note of the medications the patients take on a daily basis. This is to ensure that the medications will not counteract with their treatments.

Attentiveness

Dentists trained in special needs patients can easily discern what their patients personally require. Children, for instance, could get nervous during the appointment. They may cry or throw a tantrum because of the fear of the unknown. This is why you need to go to a dentist who has knowledge and experience in children’s dentistry.

Additionally, before you or your child’s first appointment, we recommend you meet with your dentist and establish expectations for the treatment.

Dentists trained in pediatric dentistry know how to put the child at ease during the procedures so the treatment will go smoothly. They can establish a relaxing environment so the patient will feel secure. The dentist may use a mild sedative to help the child relax.

Dentists who work with special needs patients also provide the necessary equipment specifically designed for the patients such as an operating theater. Knowledge and expertise are important when dealing with people with special needs. It can be challenging to deal with this demographic.

Compassion

Above all, dentists who specialized in special needs dentistry also need to be compassionate and tolerant to their patients’ plight. This particular segment of patients requires additional care than the usual. If the practitioner is not understanding and tolerant, he may have a hard time dealing with children’s unexpected reaction. The patient has to be comfortable with the dentist. The relationship should not be strained. Establishing trust between the dentist and the patient is crucial to the success of the dental procedures. This is why choosing the right special needs dentist to work with is necessary.