What is Special Needs Dentist?
Special needs dentist is trained and skilled in the treatment of the specific problems that affect patients with disabilities. Chicago special needs dentist Dr. Elseweifi has the knowledge and skill to provide dental care special needs children and adults.
Conditions Requiring Special Needs Dentist:
There are many physical and mental disabilities that require treatment by a special needs dentist. These include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorders including Asperger syndrome. Patients always require special needs dentistry.
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Mental Retardation (mental challenges)
- Seizer Disorders (epilepsy)
- Cerebral Palsy requires special needs dentistry.
- Down Syndrome
- Bleeding Disorders
- Asthma
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Scleroderma
- Visual, speech, and hearing impairments requiring special needs dentistry to improve communication with special needs dentist.
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Fragile old patients requiring special needs dentistry.
Why Special Needs Patients Require Special Needs Dentist?
Chicago special needs dentist Dr. Elseweifi has the experience to address special conditions that often affect special needs children and adults.
- Poor oral hygiene due to lack of ability for self-care may have serious health implications in persons with disabilities.
- Special diets of pureed foods stick to the teeth and medications sweetened with syrup or sugar contribute to tooth decay.
- Children with special needs need healthy teeth and gingiva to aid in speech development and allow the child to foods.
- Oral trauma to the face and mouth occur more frequently in people with special needs because of poor muscle coordination or seizures.
- Poor motor coordination such as with Cerebral Palsy inhibits the natural cleansing ability of the tongue, lips and cheeks.
- Some medications such as anticonvulsants, antidepressants, antipsychotics and attention enhancers have adverse orofacial reactions. The adverse reactions include: dry mouth (xerostomia), gingival overgrowth (gingival hyperplasia), gum disease, dysphagia tongue edema and facial edema.
- The chronic problems of aging such as heart disease, lung disorders, arthritis and type II diabetes may manifest themselves 15 to 20 years sooner in the person with disabilities.
If you are looking for a special needs dentist in Chicago, contact us for an appointment.