Dental Care for Special Needs Children

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, dental care is the most unmet need among the special-needs population. Kids with special needs are twice as likely as other kids their age to have untreated dental diseases.

There are many reasons why the parents of special needs children choose to skip the dentist’s office. These reasons include:

• Limited access to dental care
• A lack of transportation to a dental office
• A lack of special needs access to the dental office
• Financial strain, especially with insurance and other medical bills
• Trouble finding a dentist who will understand and work with their child’s needs
• Lower priority is given to dental care when compared to the other medical needs

Each of the above reasons is understandable and makes sense. However, people with special needs require even more dental care because they are more likely to develop cavities. The reasons for their vulnerability to the dental disease include:

• Needing to take medication containing sugar
• Inability to perform adequate at-home dental hygiene on their own
• Problems with chewing or swallowing, which can leave debris in the mouth
• Weak mouth muscles, including the tongue; this inhibits the ability to clean oral surfaces
• Medications that can sometimes cause dry mouth

Here at Lockett Orthodontics, we believe that every child deserves access to quality dental care. To make an appointment for an orthodontic consultation, please contact our Colorado Springs orthodontist today.