ORLANDO, Fla. – It's hard getting most kids to sit still for a few minutes, especially when they're sitting in the dentist's chair. But it can be especially difficult for children with special needs.
[WEB EXTRA: Dental tool kit ]
It can be tough for their parents to find them the care they need. But there's reason to smile, as more resources become available to train dentists, and help make children with special needs comfortable enough to open wide.
Samantha Billy says her son Mason, who has autism spectrum disorder, was scared, uncomfortable and uncooperative when it came time for regular dentist visits.
Mason struggles with sensory problems, Samantha says a trip to the dentist can take weeks of preparation.
"It's a lot of expectation setting and it's not, 'Hey, we're going to the dentist today.' It's 'in two weeks we're going to the dentist, remember the last time you did this?'"
Dr. Amr Moursi of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry says finding a dental home for a special needs child is not always easy.
"The number of children with special needs including developmental issues is really growing," he says. "And having them get good access to dental care is definitely a problem."
It's a problem Mason's mom found during her search. She found dentists who told her they weren't "set up" to care for children with special needs or chose to sedate them for most care.
She ultimately found a pediatric dentist. During dental school they're given specialty training, including how to care for the children.
Dr. Scott Simpson of Threshold Dental in East Orange County says that training includes what he calls the "tell. show, do," technique.
"A lot of times it just takes a lot more time in the chair, a lot more time before you actually get anything done," he says. "Just explaining everything, showing all the instruments, discussing them and telling what it might feel like. And then letting them try it."
Many dental offices now take extra steps to be sure their patients know exactly what to expect before they arrive. Some take photographs of the office and include details down to the office lighting and how many people will be there.
Parents can also tap into the resources online to prepare their children, showing them videos of procedures, or reading them books written specifically to help prepare them.
Dr. Simpson says there are more options available to parents today for quality care and dental health should never be postponed.
"I've seen adults come in with special needs that haven't been to the dentist in 20 years, just because nobody would see them," he says. "Nobody felt comfortable trying to get in their mouth."
Simpson says early intervention is key.
"The importance of dental health is often understated,there's so many problems that can stem from issues in the mouth, whether it be pain or sensory issues," he says. "If you take the time you can accomplish some pretty amazing things."