As a parent of a child with special healthcare needs, you’re intimately familiar with the fact that one-size-fits-all care doesn’t cut it. Your child faces unique barriers to maintaining good oral health, and it’s important that their providers understand that as well so they can help build routines and practices that don’t ignore your child’s differences, but acknowledge them. If your child is neurodivergent, has physical or developmental disabilities, or sensory sensitivities, they face unique barriers to maintaining good oral health. Read on to learn what dental concerns they face and how their pediatric dentist in Hinsdale can help them ward off these threats.
What Makes Dental Health More Complicated for Children with Special Needs?
There are a number of reasons why children who have special healthcare needs may be at a higher risk of developing common dental health problems than their peers. Some of these include:
- Taking certain medications that can cause dry mouth.
- Teeth grinding and clenching throughout the day and while they sleep.
- Sensory sensitivities that make brushing and flossing feel unbearably uncomfortable.
- Food sensitivities that can limit their diet to foods high in carbohydrates and sugars.
- Physical disabilities that make operating standard-shaped toothbrushes, dental floss, and other oral hygiene tools uncomfortable or impossible.
- An increased risk of gastroesophageal reflux, which can lead to dental erosion and sensitivity.
These are just a few of many risk factors that play into your child’s oral health status, which can put them at a higher risk of developing common dental issues like cavities. A knowledgeable and well-informed pediatric dentist who regularly treats children with special needs can remain mindful of these risk factors and come up with creative ways to help keep these dental issues at bay.
Common Dental Issues in Children with Special Needs
All children are at risk of developing these dental issues, but children who have risk factors such as the ones listed in the section above may be at a higher chance of experiencing:
- Dental decay or cavities, which can erode the surface of the teeth, eventually leading to more serious dental issues when left untreated.
- Gum disease and gum inflammation, which can occur when plaque and tartar are able to build up along the gumline, causing an infection to develop.
- Excessive dental wear, which can be caused by teeth grinding or bite misalignment, leading to other consequential dental issues, such as sensitivity.
- Delayed eruption of teeth and oral development, which can be a concern for some children with special needs, requiring regular monitoring to prevent infection and orthodontic problems from arising.
Preventive Steps to Help Your Child Maintain Good Oral Health
Every smile is different, which means that your pediatric dentist should be committed to providing personalized care to ensure it’s as effective as possible. Routine dental checkups and cleanings that are designed to make the space and treatment as accessible as possible for your child are the best line of defense against common dental health issues. Your child’s pediatric dentist in Hinsdale can also provide you with helpful tips and tricks for maintaining good at-home oral hygiene as well!
With a compassionate professional who knows what they’re doing by your side, you can trust that your child’s personal healthcare needs will be taken into account when determining their care.
About the Practice
At Brush Pediatric Dentistry, our team is comprised of highly qualified, board-certified pediatric dentists who are not just experts in their own rights, but many of them are moms themselves! With specialty training in treating children of all ages, including those with special healthcare needs, our team is ready to help keep your favorite smile happy and healthy. For more information on special needs dentistry, or to schedule an appointment for your child, visit Brush Pediatric Dentistry’s website or call 630-504-2223.