When you have a child who has special needs, you likely go to considerable lengths to arrange the medical care that he or she needs. This conscientious approach should extend to the child's dental care, too. Although it may sometimes be a challenge to get your child to sit calmly in the dentist's chair, taking your son or daughter to regular dental examinations is important. A child who has an unhealthy mouth is apt to suffer from a number of undesirable consequences, so choose a dentist who can accommodate your child's health issues and book regular appointments. Here are three specific dental procedures that may be of benefit to your special needs child.

Dental Sealants

One of the challenges that you'll likely face when you have a special needs child is keeping the child's teeth clean. Your child may not be able to clean his or her own teeth thoroughly, and this means that you may need to take care of this responsibility. However, if your child is resistant to you attempting to brush his or her teeth, there may be days that you cannot do much to keep the teeth clean. Dental sealants are an effective procedure in this situation. This sealant is a substance that is brushed over the teeth to protect the enamel and lower the risk of cavities.

Dental Crowns

Despite your best efforts to keep your special needs child's teeth healthy, there may be issues. For example, if you cannot brush them regularly and floss between them — the latter of which may be especially a challenge — your child could eventually be looking at tooth decay. Damage to a tooth could also arise as a result of your child grinding his or her teeth. If the dentist notices a problematic tooth, he or she may rely on a crown as a way of protecting it.

Dental Bridges

There may also be a need for one or more dental bridges for your child. A bridge holds an artificial tooth that can fill a gap where a natural tooth no longer sits. The tooth could have been lost as a result of decay, but it's also possible that the tooth was knocked out if your child were to have fallen or otherwise sustained an injury. A bridge is an effective procedure for giving your child a healthy-looking smile, rather than having to endure a gap between two teeth.

Contact a clinic, like Dentistry For Children, for more help.

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