Special Needs Dentistry – Aurora, IL

Who Can Benefit from Special Needs Dentistry?

Children with sensory concerns, developmental disorders, autism, behavioral impairments, or any other conditions that require accommodations could potentially benefit from special needs dentistry. Such children tend to have various factors that can put their oral health at risk. For example:

• They may take certain medications that cause bleeding or swelling of the gums.
• They might have trouble cleaning their teeth due to limited motor coordination.
• If they eat pureed foods that stick to the teeth easily, they can be at a higher risk for tooth decay.
• They may have reduced fluid intake, which leads to reduced saliva flow. (Saliva helps clean the mouth; without it, the chances of cavities and gum disease go up.)

What Happens During a Special Needs Visit?

During the visit, all of our team members will treat your child with warmth, friendliness, and understanding so that they know that they can trust and cooperate with us. Depending on the situation, we might use some of the following techniques:

• Using simple terminology to explain what is going to happen and demonstrate using a model.
• Positive reinforcement for good behavior.
• Maintaining a controlled voice volume and tone at all times to keep their attention without yelling at them.
• Using a mouth prop to keep the mouth open so that your child doesn’t have to consciously hold their jaw in place.
• Gently holding your child, possibly with the help of an assistant or parent.
• Application of nitrous oxide or conscious sedation to keep the child calm and comfortable.

The Rainbow System

The Rainbow Stabilizing System helps to minimize the risk of your child making any unsafe movements during their dental procedure. The system involves a comfortable board (sometimes known as a papoose board) and specially designed Rainbow Wrap. The wrap will keep your child’s arms and legs securely in place while we work on their smile. The system is designed to look as friendly as possible so that your child doesn’t mind staying in place during their treatment.