Dental Options for Children with Sensory Issues

Entering a pediatric dental office can feel like stepping into another world. Your child might note the colorful walls, the hum of dental instruments, and the air’s clean scent. Pediatric dental offices take a lot of care to create a welcoming space for their little patients. For many children, this purposefully designed environment helps ease dental anxiety and create a feeling of both safety and fun. 

Of course, for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or individual sensory issues, the sounds, smells, sights, and sensations can be overwhelming. Are you struggling to maintain a healthy oral health routine for your child? Read on to learn dental options, tips, and tricks for children with sensory issues.

What is Sensory Integration?

Sensory integration is how a person uses his or her five senses to process external stimuli. For those experiencing sensory processing disorders, this can impact daily routines and, thus, oral health. 

It’s important to differentiate between “sensory seekers” and “sensory avoiders.” Sensory seekers gravitate towards specific sensory input, which can make teeth brushing a soothing experience. Dental visits aren’t typically as challenging for sensory seekers. However, sensory avoiders tend to process certain external stimuli as either irritating or painful. This can make trips to the dentist very overwhelming and can result in such behaviors as crying, hitting, biting, or moving.

Preparing for a Trip to the Dentist

If you anticipate that your child might have some dental anxiety, schedule a tour of the dental office before his or her appointment. This provides your child with the opportunity to become a bit more familiarized with the environment.  

At this tour, feel free to speak with the dental team to let them know your concerns and your child’s specific needs. Let the staff know your child’s particular sensitivities and preferences, as well as past dental experiences. This information will help your dentist and hygienist better prepare and set your little one up for success. 

Another proactive approach is to read your child a social story or visual chart a week or so before his or her visit. These stories outline the steps of a dental appointment and allow time for your child to ask clarifying questions. 

At the Dentist 

Once at the dental appointment, ideally, there has been communication with the office team, so they are better prepared to make your child have a comfortable visit. This may include scheduling an extended time slot to allow your child extra time to acclimate. .  Private rooms are also an option if you would like an environment with less stimuli.

Some pediatric dental offices will take special care by providing accommodations. Such accommodations can include sunglasses, noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, sound machines, turning off overhead lights, and decluttering workspaces.

Teeth Brushing at Home 

For sensory seekers, tooth brushing might produce a calming effect. To ensure your child carefully brushes all teeth, consider using an electric toothbrush, and sing a song while they brush his or her teeth.  You want to take your time brushing over 2-3 minutes.

For sensory avoiders, teeth brushing might be a daily battle. The flavor of toothpaste may be overstimulating. It may be worth looking into unflavored toothpaste options—or even simply using water with no toothpaste.

Are you looking for a welcoming, caring dental office?

Children’s Dental Specialities in Worcester, Massachusetts, welcomes children with sensory issues. Dr. Dan and his staff work diligently to create an environment that is a safe space for all children. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to schedule a tour, consultation, or appointment today!

How to Tell if Your Child Needs Braces

Do you remember when you first became the Tooth Fairy? You might recall a pang of bittersweet nostalgia as you saw your child cross off yet another developmental milestone. You might have playfully reminded your little one, “No more losing teeth! You’re growing up way too fast!” However, you were swiftly and thankfully reminded of his or her youthful innocence when your child excitedly placed the lost tooth underneath the pillow.

Depending on your child’s age—and your years of Tooth Fairy experience—you’ve started to see your little one’s adult teeth appear. Suddenly, his or her perfect baby teeth are replaced with larger, imperfect adult teeth. Now instead of focusing on the dollar placed under the pillow, you’re starting to calculate the cost of braces. Read on to discover whether your child needs braces and how to best invest in your child’s new smile.

What Causes Orthodontic Problems?

Orthodontic problems are either hereditary or can develop over time. Problems passed down from parents can include issues with jaw structure, crooked teeth, and overcrowded teeth. Other orthodontic problems can be attributed to a child’s habits such as pacifier use, thumb sucking and mouth breathing. These usually lead to issues of spacing and bite. 

Signs Your Child Might Need Braces

  • Irregular or delayed loss of baby teeth

  • Adult teeth that have not grown in

  • Trouble biting together

  • Misaligned teeth that are overcrowded or misplaced 

  • Overbite (upper teeth overlap lower teeth)

  • Underbite (lower teeth protrude beyond upper teeth)

  • Crossbite (upper teeth sit inside bottom teeth)

  • Open bite (upper teeth and lower teeth slant outward and do not touch)

  • Accidental biting of the inner cheek or the roof of the mouth

  • Mouth breathing and/or snoring

Benefits of Braces

Braces provide your child with a myriad of benefits. Perhaps the most obvious benefit is the aesthetic advantage and increased confidence that comes from a gleaming smile. Another important reason is that braces improve oral health. Braces can help align your child’s bite, thus decreasing the potential for breaking (traumatic injuries) and wear (tooth grinding). When teeth are aligned, there are also less tight spaces where plaque can build and thus less opportunity for gum disease and tooth decay. Aligned teeth can also mitigate speech difficulties. Finally, properly shaped jaws can help with better breathing, sleep, and general well-being as children develop into young adults.

Get an Evaluation for Your Child Today!

Being a parent—and Tooth Fairy—means doing whatever it takes to give your little one the healthiest smile possible. If you believe your child might benefit from braces, contact Children’s Dental Specialities in Worcester, Massachusetts, to get an evaluation by Dr. Dan today. 

Help Your Kids’ Smile: The Key Benefits of Pediatric Dentistry in 2020

As a parent, you always want the best for your children. Their oral health is no exception! Having a healthy, radiant smile offers innumerable benefits, and it all begins with your child’s pediatric dental experience. 

Create Lifelong, Healthy Habits 

Robust oral health is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a lifelong commitment that requires a solid foundation. Studies show that regular check-ups to a dentist in childhood pave the way for sustained lifelong, healthy habits. 

To children, actions speak louder than words. Simply telling your child the importance of brushing and flossing is less effective than showing them. Bringing your child to the dentist sends the message, “your oral health matters.” If you want your children to prioritize their oral health, you must first show them what it means to invest in their smiles. 

Keep Mouths Healthy

Some adults believe that baby teeth aren’t important as “they’ll eventually fall out.” On the contrary, baby teeth are needed for proper growth and development.  They provide dentists with crucial insight about your child’s future dental needs. Pediatric dentists analyze your child’s dental and jaw development and use it to create a long-term plan. 

If you choose to wait to invest in your child’s smile only after his or her adult teeth appear, it may be too late. A cornerstone of pediatric dentistry is preventative dentistry. Having your child regularly visit the dentist is a proactive—rather than a reactive—method of care. Just as you wouldn’t skip your child’s doctor’s check-ups, you won’t want to miss his or her dental check-ups either!

Offer Professional Feedback 

How often have you reminded your child about the benefits of brushing and flossing? Children are inundated by verbal “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” from their parents, so it’s challenging to know which lessons will stick. 

Strengthen this particular message with the help of your child’s pediatric dentist and dental hygienists! Not only will he or she provide fun lessons about brushing and flossing, but he or she also stands out as an authoritative figure. When an expert looks your child in the eye and gives them the feedback that lack of brushing will lead to cavities or gum disease, your child is more likely to listen. Your children are also more susceptible to an expert’s positive reinforcement when their dentist exclaims, “No cavities! You must be brushing and flossing every day. Keep up the good work!” 

Minimize Dental Anxiety 

Even as an adult, you might feel some latent anxiety when you hear the word “dentist.” Other adults feel neutral or even excited at the thought of a dental check-up. Your childhood dental experience heavily influences how you think about the dentist today. 

Introducing your child to the world of dentistry within their first year of life normalizes the experience. Pediatric dental offices are intentionally designed to be a welcoming place for children. Colorful walls, fun photos, kid-friendly books, and prizes help your child feel at home in a new environment. The staff is trained to work with children and are often characterized as reassuring, patient, understanding, and kind. Choosing the right pediatric dental office can have significant effects on your child’s lifelong relationship with his or her oral health. 

What Now? 

This overwhelming desire to give your children the best of everything can be daunting. You’re well aware that regular visits to the dentist for your child are crucial in achieving lifelong oral health. Rest assured that once you choose the right pediatric dentist, you can sit back and relax. Give your child the best dental care possible and contact Children’s Dental Specialities in Worcester, Massachusetts, to make an appointment today!

Four Tips for Keeping Your Kids Cavity Free

Cavity Free Kids

Did you know that the most common chronic disease of children and teens is tooth decay?  Even worse, the CDC reports that nearly 20% of children’s cavities are left untreated.  What may be even more surprising is that nearly all cavities are 100% preventable.  In fact, simply by following these 6 steps, you could help your child enter adulthood without suffering from even a single cavity.

Take advantage of sealants or composite fillings.

Sealants are the most effective, yet most underutilized method of preventing cavities.  Dental sealants involve a temporary, thin plastic coating that is “painted” on the chewing surfaces of teeth which creates a barrier where food often gets trapped.  Composite fillings are sometimes used as an alternative to sealants, but in the same way by filling deep crevices.  The relatively low cost of sealants makes them an obvious choice when compared with the discomfort and higher costs of treating a cavity.

Limit foods that tend to stick to teeth.

Sticky candies like caramel and taffy often stay around for a long time after kids eat them.  But candy isn’t the only food which needs to be limited.  Crackers, potato chips and other starchy foods also tend to get stuck in the nooks and crannies of tooth surfaces.  Without proper brushing, these foods provide sugar to bacteria that feed on it and multiply and attack enamel.  For this reason, these foods should be limited and occasional.  Regular brushing and flossing is essential when these foods are consumed.

Begin good dental habits early.

Oral care can begin even before teeth appear.  Using a soft cloth to clean your baby’s gums can limit bacteria and protect emerging teeth.  Small children should get help with brushing.

Model good dental habits.

One of the most effective ways you can ensure that your children stay cavity free is by modeling good dental habits in front of them.  Do they see you brush?  Are you flossing daily?  Modeling good behaviors will teach your children first hand that you value your own oral health and theirs.

Why Choose a Dentist that Focuses on Pediatric Patients?

Choosing a Pediatric Dentist
 

While most parents understand the benefits of having a pediatrician for their child instead of simply a general doctor, it’s not often clean why a pediatric dentist is just as necessary and preferable over a general dentist.  Choosing a pediatric dentist will ensure that the development is going as it should, along with establishing good dental habits that will last a lifetime.

What sets us apart?

Pediatric Dentists only treat children and have 2 additional years of specialized education to earn our title.  From kid-friendly office designs to our unique communication style, our area of expertise offers the best care for your child.

Our goal as a pediatric dental office is to help all children feel good about visiting the dentist and teach them how to care for their teeth.  We’ll even set up a “friendly visit” to help alleviate any fears your child may have.  Pleasant visits to the dental office establish trust and confidence in your child that will set a precedent for dental visits later on.

Pediatric dentists also have special training in helping children with special needs. We encourage you to reach out to us about your child’s unique situation.

What about teens?

Adolescents require special attention too. In addition to orthodontic needs that are best addressed in the teen years, decaying or poorly situated teeth can make them more self-conscious. As teens take on more responsibility for their own diet, and as they adjust to busy schedules we often see a tendency to eat more unhealthy snack foods that can become a major part of their diet. We provide a positive approach to restoring and guiding teeth, and teaching preventive dental health care throughout the teenage years.

Our ultimate goal is to make our dental practice a comfortable and inviting place.  We hope you’ll let us show you how we accomplish that!

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