Special Needs / Aged Care

Dental Care for Patients with Special Needs

Dental care for patients with special needs is as imperative as it is for the rest of the population. We often see that patients with special needs have their dental care neglected because of the numerous complex issues that arise in providing dental care to patients with various physical, intellectual or behavioural disabilities.

As a minimum, everyone needs twice daily brushing and flossing. This simple process can sometimes be impossible for a parent or carer to carry out adequately in an uncooperative child or adult. If dental care is neglected, the end result is likely to be dental decay and or gum disease. If left untreated, these diseases may lead to serious infections, which may ultimately be life threatening. Pain from dental disease and infection may exacerbate or cause challenging behaviours, particularly when a person is unable to communicate adequately.

It is therefore imperative that patients with special needs receive regular dental treatment at a facility that specifically caters for their often complex and challenging requirements.

Today there are numerous techniques available to ensure that all patients are able to access dental care appropriate to their needs. This may include various forms of behavioural management and the use of conscious sedation.

Conscious sedation is an easy and effective way to provide treatment from routine examination and cleaning to more complex treatment procedures.

For those patients with more complex physical or medical conditions, we are able to provide treatment under general anaesthesia in a hospital setting.

At Northside Dental & Implant Centre we are committed to providing compassionate and empathetic care to all patients in our purpose built facility. We have wheelchair access and a hoist on site. Our staff are highly trained and experienced in treating patients with special needs and complex medical conditions.

We welcome the opportunity to assist all patients with their dental needs.

Useful techniques for carers:

• Using a Tell-Show-Do technique
• Be calm, friendly and encouraging. Tell the patient that you are about to help then brush their teeth.
• Place the brush in the patients hand and mimic the motion of brushing. This may encourage the patient to brush their own teeth.
• Hold the patient’s hand with brush in it, place the brush into their mouth and start the brushing technique.
• If they do not like the sensation, try placing a familiar object in their other hand, or both hands if required to help distract them while you brush their teeth
• Always be positive and encouraging