Special Needs Dentistry – Inver Grove Heights, MN
Quality Dental Care for Kids with Special Needs
Dr. Strumpf takes a particular pride in his ability to help every child in the Inver Grove Heights Area, and this includes children with intellectual or physical disabilities. If your child needs special accommodations in their dental care, we’ll be happy to provide them with everything they need to have a productive and enjoyable trip to the dentist. If you call our office and explain your situation, we’ll be more than happy to do everything necessary to give your child the dental care they deserve.
Why Choose Mighty Molars for Special Needs Dentistry?
- Compassionate and Experienced Dentist
- Gentle and Caring Dental Team
- Sedation Dentistry Available
Special Needs Present Unique Oral Challenges
Pediatric dental patients with intellectual or physical disabilities can deal with unique challenges for their oral health care. A few of these include:
- Children with disabilities such as cerebral palsy can wear their enamel down with teeth grinding
- Teeth that are missing, extra, or improperly formed may be harder to clean
- Seizures or protective reflexes can lead to dental trauma
- Children with conditions that affect their immune systems can be more likely to develop early onset gum disease
- Teeth can sometimes emerge early or late or stop erupting when still partially in the gum.
- Patients with muscular dystrophy or craniofacial disorders can have bite problems that make teeth harder to clean and more likely to become infected.
Preventive dentistry is a crucial part of maintaining any child’s smile, and Dr. Strumpf has received pediatric specialty training from the University of Illinois Chicago. With his skills and experience, he is more than able to detect and treat dental issues in children with special needs.
How Do We Help Our Patients with Special Needs Feel Comfortable?
Dr. Strumpf is trained to treat pediatric patients with special needs and will do everything he can to ensure that your child receives gentle care that won’t cause them distress. Our team is skilled in tending to the needs of patients with intellectual or physical disabilities and treats them with the utmost compassion and courtesy. Our staff will take a step-by-step approach to avoid rushing the patient so they can stay comfortable and avoid trauma. If your child has dental anxiety or difficulty sitting still for extended periods, our office offers dental sedation using nitrous oxide (also called laughing gas), IV sedation, and general anesthesia.
Dental Tips for Our Patients with Special Needs
Good brushing and flossing habits are critical parts of any child’s oral hygiene. Special, easy-to-handle at-home oral hygiene instruments may be best for patients with conditions like muscular dystrophy, and some patients with special needs may need assistance with flossing. Our team will carefully inspect your child’s teeth during their checkup and recommend measures to improve their oral cleaning practices. Bringing your child with special needs to our office at a younger age can help them get used to the dental environment so they feel more comfortable when coming back.