| Children with developmental disabilities or challenges | | | | Schooling |
| face many obstacles as do the professionals that | | | | The medical and dental needs have long been ignored |
| teach and treat them. It can be quite difficult for a child | | | | for those children with developmental disabilities and |
| with developmental challenges to understand some of | | | | challenges because of the difficulty involved in treating |
| the medical or dental procedures they must endure | | | | them. More dentists along with their staff are taking |
| and emotionally draining for you as a parent. | | | | classes to learn more about specific conditions and |
| Some children act out and can put themselves and the | | | | how to address the special needs of these young |
| medical or dental staff at risk, so many doctors and | | | | patients. We in the dental profession have the |
| dentists refuse to treat them. We as dentists can take | | | | opportunity to become well versed in problems that |
| special classes in order to learn how to treat your | | | | may arise and the solutions we can apply will be able |
| children with developmental disabilities and challenges | | | | to better meet the needs of children with |
| gently and effectively. | | | | developmental disabilities. Keeping the child and the |
| General Anesthesia | | | | members of our team safe, not letting the child |
| One option that we can utilize is to perform the dental | | | | become too frightened are all being addressed in |
| procedures while your child is under general | | | | continuing education for medical and dental |
| anesthesia. This ensures that a child that is prone to | | | | professionals alike in order to further our knowledge |
| violence in an unfamiliar setting is completely safe to | | | | and abilities to work with these very special children. |
| themselves and to others that are around him. A child | | | | Everyone deserves the best care that is available and |
| that has a violent tantrum in the dental office runs the | | | | with the new education programs targeted for medical |
| risk of breaking equipment and potentially harming | | | | and dental professionals, children with special needs |
| himself or a member of the staff. | | | | can be routinely treated so that more serious problems |
| General anesthesia is recommended for those children | | | | do not occur because of lack of early treatment. Not |
| that not only are unable to cooperate but are unable to | | | | every dentist or doctor is suited for this delicate but |
| comprehend the procedure at hand as well. Children | | | | work, but those that feel they can take on the |
| that are in this category should be examined every | | | | challenge will find many resources that will allow them |
| one to three years whether there is any indication of | | | | to properly treat and handle children that have |
| dental problems or not. | | | | developmental disabilities or challenges. In the end, they |
| Before beginning the exam under anesthesia, you | | | | will find that the work with these children is rewarding |
| should be made aware of the risks involved for your | | | | and worth the extra time and effort taken in order to |
| children and a consent form needs to be signed. All | | | | give them treatment they need. |
| medical information pertaining to your child should be | | | | If you are a parent of a child with special needs, ask |
| made available to the dental team. Post operative care | | | | your dentist if they are equipped to handle those |
| should also be explained to you and what you should | | | | needs or for a referral to someone who does handle |
| expect when your child awakens. | | | | those needs. |