What is Special Needs Dentistry?

Special needs dentistry, also known as special care dentistry, involves the diagnosis and provision of oral health care and dental procedures to people who have intellectual and/or cognitive disability, or who are affected by other medical, physical, or emotional issues.

Patients with special needs are those, who due to physical, medical, developmental, emotional or cognitive conditions, require special consideration when receiving dental treatment. This can include people with Autism Spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, Down Syndrome, genetic disorders, spinal cord injuries and countless other conditions or injuries that make standard dental procedures challenging.

Caring for a patient who has special needs takes compassion, knowledge, and understanding. While many dentists can accommodate the care of some patients with special needs , we focus on meeting the dental needs of most of these patients. If you, your child or someone you know has special needs, talk with your dentist to discuss seeking treatment under general anesthesia at one of our facilities.

Source: https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/s/special-needs