Special Needs Dentistry – Naperville, IL
Personalized Care for Unique Needs
Children with intellectual or physical disabilities sometimes have unique needs, especially when it comes to dental care. Rest assured, our team at Tic Tac Tooth understands how important it is to be flexible, patient, and compassionate. Our goal is always to help children with special needs feel safe and comfortable so that they can have a positive experience at the dentist’s. To schedule an appointment for your loved one, submit a request online or contact our office directly at (630) 528-1394.
Why Choose Tic Tac Tooth for Special Needs Dentistry?
- Experienced Pediatric Dental Team
- Laughing Gas Available for Nervous Patients
- Comfortable Office Space
The Importance of Dental Care for Children with Special Needs
It can take some time for any child to perfect their oral hygiene habits, but kids with special needs sometimes have unique challenges that make consistent dental care more difficult. If your loved one has limited mobility, for example, it can be harder for them to brush and floss thoroughly. In many cases, children with special needs also have sensory sensitivities or have had bad experiences that can make a dental office seem scary. Because of this, they can be more likely to develop unpleasant oral conditions.
Our team can not only help your child feel more at ease during their appointments, but can also help them with at-home care tips and by monitoring their smile closely for cavities, gum disease, bite misalignment, and more.
How Do We Help Patients with Special Needs Feel Comfortable?
The very first thing we’ll do is work with you to make sure we understand your child’s unique challenges and needs. Part of this process can include an office tour, which helps many patients with special needs feel more familiar with the office and their pediatric dental team. It also gives us a chance to get to know your child!
Not every child likes having noisy distractions during their appointment, but we do have ceiling mounted TVs in every treatment room for those who do. We’ll pay very close attention to your child to make sure they’re comfortable throughout their appointment and will also let you stay with them while we take care of their smile.
If your child has anxiety, is afraid of the dentist, or has a sensitive gag reflux or other condition that makes it difficult for them to feel at ease, we can administer nitrous oxide sedation – a.k.a. laughing gas. Rest assured, it’s quite safe, and can effectively help nervous patients relax.
Dental Tips for Patients with Special Needs
We’d be happy to give you more personalized tips for your child as we become more familiar with their needs. In the meantime, though, these general tips are good for any smile:
- Help your child build a routine. Many kids with special needs do well when they brush and floss at the same time every day and night.
- Consider fluoride treatment. Fluoride can give your child’s teeth extra protection from cavities.
- Find out what type of toothpaste and floss your child prefers. Kids with sensory sensitivities don’t always like the strong taste of mint toothpaste or the feeling of threaded dental floss. Try different flavors and types of flossers to see what your child likes best!