Each patient, no matter what his or her special needs, is treated equally and with respect at our office. Our dental team takes pride in our abilities to care for special-needs patients, and we continually educate ourselves in order to serve this population of patients with the highest standard of care.
Dental visits can be challenging for the well prepared child. Imagine if you were not able to process events that were about to take place? These challenges become more difficult for the exceptional child. Prior negative experiences can have a direct impact on sequential visits as well as an overall feeling about the dental office. Kid's First recognizes the stress and anxiety, not only for the child but for the parents as well.
We would like to give your child the best possible experience. We have implemented many innovative techniques to help transition your child for treatment. For your comfort we have added a "Special Needs Liaison" to our practice. This dynamic resource will help you from the first phone call through completion of treatment. Children with special needs sometimes have significant difficulty understanding, which can result in challenging behavior. Unusual and challenging behaviors are often present, such as extreme reactions to changes, unusual sensitivites to particular sounds, sights or textures.
Kid's First is here as an additional support system for you and your child. We understand how difficult it can be to simply brush, and we want to provide you with some tips and suggestions. The following guidelines can help both you and your child have a positive dental experience.
When making your initial call you will be given the option of a "comfort call". This simply means our special needs liaison will be calling to get more details about your child prior to the appointment. This is a remarkable resource! During this phone call we will discuss your expectations, previous dental experiences, current dental needs, and any questions you may have.
A personalized activity schedule can be made for your child. This set of pictures will help your child follow the process in pictures. This is a great help to those children with learning delays and children on the spectrum.
Sensory items are also available. Items such as putty, squishy balls, and other hand held manipulatives can be used.
TV rooms are great too! If you would like a TV room please let us know.
Reward! Rewards! Rewards! We believe in positive reinforcement. You can bring something great for today's visit or utilize the items we have. Modeling and rewards are two simple behavioral techniques that are easy to implement at this appointment. When your child is given an instruction and then completes the task, he/she should be rewarded quickly. These rewards can range from stickers, toothbrushes, and prizes. However, if there is an item you think would work better, please bring it with you. Positive reinforcement is our best opportunity to make this a great experience!