Children with special needs
"A child with special needs is one that is affected by congenital, developmental, or acquired through disease, trauma, or environmental cause and may impose limitations in performing daily self-maintenance activities or substantial limitations in a major life activity. Health care for individuals with special needs requires specialized knowledge acquired by additional training, as well as increased awareness and attention, adaptation, and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine.”
(source: AAPD)
Special Needs Patients
1. All children with special needs should receive the same high level of care as healthy kids. Therefore, any child who attends our clinic will have their teeth assessed and appropriate treatment planned.
2. We may have to be innovative, patient, and most importantly, work together as a team. A parent's assistance is essential in successfully completing the treatment.
This 17 yr old patient suffered from a movement disorder: the more he tried to stay still the more he moved. Although he was not afraid, he could not control his movements. His parents did not want to treat him at the hospital again.
His Mom and Dad and my assistant held his head and hands. It took us only half an hour to remove excess gum that was getting infected and causing pain. At the end of the treatment, he was calm and his movement decreased. When he did move, we moved with him. He was very excited that he could "do it" and parents were overjoyed that they did not have to spend a day at the hospital.
All treatment was completed in the patient's wheelchair.
We were just happy that we could help!