Caring for Dental Patients with Special Needs
If you are a caregiver to someone who has special needs such as dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or autism, you are well aware of some of the challenges caring for their oral health can present. As difficult and frustrating as it may be to help care for their oral health, it is absolutely imperative to do so. A healthy mouth lessens the risk and/or symptoms of heart disease, dementia, high blood pressure, diabetes, and Covid-19. Oral bacteria causes inflammation throughout the body, which affects the way blood vessels function. Any health issue related to the cardiovascular system can be impacted by oral health. We are fully prepared and ready to provide services for Dental Patients with Special Needs.
How can Downtown Dental Centre help care for our Dental Patients with Special Needs?
First of all, we appreciate being informed of the person’s abilities and limitations with regards to:
- Ability to verbalize and express themselves; interpersonal interaction
- Cognitive ability, and if necessary, who can legally provide informed consent
- Attention span, impulse control, learning and memory
- Physical ability to transfer to a dental chair or accommodate patient in their own wheelchair
If anxiety is an issue, our website has many photos and videos of the office, our staff, and various dental procedures, so dental patients with special needs can familiarize themselves with their dental visit before they arrive.
Once the patient is in the office, we will take our time to introduce them to the providers they are working with, the surroundings, dental tools, and any necessary procedures. We encourage questions and look for ways to interact so that any anxiety can be lessened. We know with the increased level of PPE due to Covid, that not seeing the dental provider’s full face can be an issue. We do all we can to address that issue and show them the extra layers of PPE and what the provider may look like when they actually begin to do dental work.
We realize that flexibility is required with all patients, but of course, especially so with those with special needs. If an appointment is not going the way it was planned, it may be shortened and done over a few appointments so the level of comfort can increase.
A major component of all dental appointments is education. We strive to educate patients on the importance of good nutrition as well as proper mouth care. We can suggest alternative tools or products that may help to increase their oral health.
What can be done at home to increase oral health?
- Establish an oral care routine: brushing twice and flossing once a day, always at the same time.
- Don’t forget to brush or wipe the tongue.
- Offer several kinds of fluoridated toothpaste if the patient is sensitive to textures and flavours.
- Identify abnormalities that may require a dental appointment, such as swelling; red or white patches on soft tissues; parts of the gums that have changed colour; and sores that do not heal within 14 days.
- Encourage a more balanced and nutritious diet, limiting sugary drinks and making water the drink of choice.
- Encourage using separate cups and toothbrushes to limit the transmission of bacteria that can cause dental disease.
- Go slowly and gently – using a soft toothbrush and waxed flosser.
- Be supportive and encouraging. You may need to stop and come back to it several times until a routine can be established.
We are here to help care for dental patients with all kinds of needs and abilities. As a caregiver, you have a demanding and exhausting role. Your effort in providing your loved one good oral care is worthwhile and one that we at Downtown Dental Centre will fully support in whatever way we can.
