Special Needs Dentistry – Naperville, IL
Exceptional Dentistry For Every Child
At G&G Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, working with children with intellectual and physical disabilities is our bread and butter. We’re always happy to provide special accommodations and added attention when individuals with physical, behavioral, mental, or sensory needs come by for a visit. Here, you can expect us to always work with you to establish a comfortable, inviting environment for your child, and our compassionate children's dental team will ensure they feel safe and secure. With years of experience under our belts, we look forward to welcoming your family to our pediatric dental office. Call us today to schedule a visit with our special needs dentist in Naperville, IL.
Why Choose G&G Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for Special Needs Dentistry?
- Family-Oriented Dental Team
- Sedation Options Available
- Clear Focus on Patient Comfort
Special Needs Present Unique Oral Challenges
Children with intellectual and physical disabilities need the same regular dental care as all other children. No matter what their ability, these visits make a significant difference in their current and future oral health.
It is common for children with special needs to experience unique dental challenges, some of which might include:
- Late tooth eruption or no erupting teeth
- The inability to establish a normal oral hygiene routine because of physical or cognitive limitations
- Teeth grinding or biting inanimate objects
Our team at G&G Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics is here to provide the highest level of care so that children, from babies to teenagers, with intellectual and physical disabilities receive the essential care they need. We are pleased to provide services to children with:
- Autism
- Down Syndrome
- Who are wheelchair bound
- Who are deaf
- Who are visually impaired or blind
- Cerebral Palsy
How Do We Help Our Patients with Special Needs Feel Comfortable?
Before your child’s first appointment, we recommend calling our pediatric dental office to let us know about any special accommodations they might need during their visit. We also suggest bringing anything from home that helps your child feel calmer and more comfortable (i.e., a special toy, specific music, or headphones). We will be happy to work with you in any way we can to ensure they have a positive experience in our friendly dental office. Whether it is turning down the lights, eliminating music, or helping them become familiar with the specialized instruments we use, we’re here to help.
Dental Tips for Our Patients with Special Needs
We know you adore your child’s smile, which is why we want to help you keep it as healthy as possible. Instead of feeling defeated because of their unique oral challenges, the following are tips our dentists recommend to help boost their oral health and hygiene year-round:
- Stay on top of their six-month dental checkups and cleanings. These will allow us to carefully examine their growing smile and ensure cavities, decay, gum disease, and other serious conditions do not occur. We’ll also monitor their tooth eruption and bite development to catch problems in their earliest stages.
- Inquire about fluoride application to minimize their risk of cavities. Since children with intellectual and physical disabilities are more prone to dental decay, we can incorporate fluoride treatments into their regular checkups to help protect their teeth between appointments.
- Make sure you bring your child in for their first dental checkup early on so that we can get to know them and help avoid possible fear in the future. By bringing them in at a young age, our team can determine their oral health baseline and create a calming environment that aligns with their sensory needs.
- Create an at-home oral hygiene routine that they can stick to. Allow them to pick out a toothbrush that feels good in their hand but has small bristles. Let them choose a toothpaste flavor they prefer, as this will make brushing at home much easier. When flossing, try different products (i.e., water irrigator, wax dental floss, floss pickers, etc.) to determine which your child prefers.
