Dental Hygiene and Children with Special Needs

As a pediatric dentist on New York's Staten Island, Glenn J. Marie, DDS, draws on more than 25 years of practice experience. Glenn J. Marie, DDS, serves a diverse group of patients, which includes children with autism, Down syndrome, and other special needs.

Children with special needs have a higher likelihood than their typically developing peers to have cavities and other oral health issues. This may be due to atypically formed teeth, which accumulate plaque and debris more easily, though it may also stem from an increased intake of sugar due to medications or special feeding regimens. In addition, if the child has a tendency toward uncontrolled movement, his or her oral tissue may be prone to trauma.

Proper brushing goes a long way toward preventing these problems, yet many children with special needs have trouble maintaining a brushing regimen. For some children, the issue is emotional, and a distraction can make the process easier. For others, the act of holding a toothbrush poses the biggest problem. Placing the toothbrush in a bicycle handle or other soft, spongy holder may remedy the matter.

Likewise, if a child has trouble with flossing, a Waterpik® may be an effective alternative. Many parents of children with special needs also find that the use of wipes or rinses containing xylitol (a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener) can be an extra preventive step.

Parents of children with special needs must also take care when choosing a dental office. It is important to select a dentist who has experience caring for children with special needs and to start visits early, so that the child becomes accustomed to the process. Some families also find that rehearsing the dental visit at home in a play setting can help to prepare the child, though it rarely hurts to have a comfort object on hand during the visit.

Continuing Education Lectures of the Richmond County Dental Society

 

A graduate of the New York University College of Dentistry in Manhattan, Glenn J. Marie, DDS, has served as the owner and principal pediatric dentist at Dentistry for Children since 1990. Engaged in a number of professional associations, Glenn J. Marie, DDS, holds active membership in the Second District Dental Society of New York and its Richmond County Dental Society.

The Branch Society of the Second District Dental Society of New York, the Richmond County Dental Society offers regular lectures that present professional information that is both up to date and relevant to the dental practices of its members. Each of these lectures typically earns attendees one mandatory continuing education credit.

Recent Richmond County Dental Society lectures include Complex Bone Grafting for Predictable Implant Placement by Staten Island University Hospital attending physician Mark Stein and Take It on the Run, Baby - Substance Abuse and Its Clinical Dental Considerations by certified consultant pharmacist Thomas Viola. On October 18, 2016, the Richmond County Dental Society presented a comprehensive lecture on the pros and cons of digital dental impressions.