Special Healthcare Needs Dentistry
At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we provide individualized dental care for children and young adults with special healthcare needs.
Every child deserves dental care that meets them where they are.
At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we provide individualized dental care for children and young adults with special healthcare needs. Our pediatric dental team understands that developmental, behavioral, sensory, physical and medical needs can all affect how a patient experiences dental care. We take the time to understand each patient, work closely with families and adapt our approach to help make dental visits as comfortable and successful as possible.
Our team cares for patients with a wide range of healthcare needs, including those with autism, Down syndrome and other developmental or medical conditions. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, we consider each patient’s abilities, comfort level, health history and individual needs when planning their care.
Specialized Dental Care for Your Child’s Individual Needs
For some patients, a routine dental appointment can present challenges that aren’t always obvious. Communication differences, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, medical conditions and difficulty tolerating certain aspects of treatment can all change what a successful dental visit looks like.
Pediatric dentists receive additional training after dental school focused specifically on caring for children, including child development, behavior management and treatment of patients with special healthcare needs.
At Pediatric Dental Specialists, that specialized background allows us to approach care with patience and flexibility. Our goal isn’t simply to get through an appointment. We want to establish a relationship with your family, learn what works best for your child and build on positive experiences over time.
Coordinated Dental Treatment at Children’s Mercy Hospital
Some patients with complex medical or behavioral needs may require dental treatment under general anesthesia. Pediatric Dental Specialists offers anesthesiologist-supported treatment and can provide appropriate hospital-based dental care at Children’s Mercy Hospital.
An important part of this relationship is the ability to coordinate dental treatment with other medical care.
If your child needs a procedure under anesthesia with another surgeon or pediatric specialist at Children’s Mercy, our team may be able to coordinate the necessary dental treatment so both can be completed during the same anesthesia session when appropriate.
For families managing multiple healthcare needs, this type of coordination can help reduce the need to put a child through separate procedures and anesthesia appointments when the necessary care can safely and appropriately be combined.
From Cradle Through College
Continuity can be especially important for patients with special healthcare needs.
Transitioning to an unfamiliar dental office and starting over with a new team isn’t always easy. That’s why Pediatric Dental Specialists takes a “cradle through college” approach to caring for these patients.
For patients with special healthcare needs, care can continue into the college years when appropriate. This allows patients and families to maintain a relationship with a dental team that already understands their history, preferences and individual needs.
As patients grow, their dental needs may change—but the familiarity and trust built with their care team don’t have to disappear.
Building Trust One Visit at a Time
A successful dental experience may look different for every patient.
For one child, success may mean completing an entire preventive appointment. For another, progress may happen gradually as they become more familiar with the dental office and our team.
We believe those differences matter. Our goal is to create a long-term dental home where patients and families feel understood and supported. The practice describes its approach as building relationships with children and families based on trust, and that philosophy is particularly important when caring for patients who may need additional support during dental visits.
When Additional Support or Sedation Is Needed
Our first priority is to determine an approach appropriate for the individual patient and the treatment they need.
For some children, additional support may be appropriate. Pediatric Dental Specialists’ existing sedation options include nitrous oxide for certain patients with mild anxiety or limited treatment needs, as well as anesthesiologist-supported general anesthesia for patients who require a different level of care. General anesthesia may be provided in an outpatient office setting or at Children’s Mercy Hospital depending on the circumstances.
Our team can discuss the available options with you and determine what approach is appropriate based on your child’s needs and planned treatment.
A Dental Home That Understands Your Child
Finding dental care for a child with special healthcare needs is about more than finding someone who can treat their teeth. You want a team willing to understand the person behind the diagnosis.
At Pediatric Dental Specialists, we’re committed to providing individualized care while developing relationships that can last for years. Whether your child needs routine preventive dentistry, additional support during appointments, hospital-based treatment or coordinated care alongside other pediatric specialists, we’ll work with you to determine an appropriate path forward.
Contact Pediatric Dental Specialists to discuss your child’s needs or request an appointment.