Often, children and adults with special needs or who are on the spectrum could have difficulty undergoing the necessary care to keep smiles healthy and strong. Fortunately, our team has experience in working with patients with special needs, helping them enjoy a comfortable office experience. In today’s blog, your Katy, TX, dentist talks about special needs dentistry.
Working with Kids and Adults
Dr. Lathrop and our team can help address minor and severe oral health concerns for kids and adults in our community. We get to know our patients and ensure each one receives a personalized approach to dentistry, one that addresses their unique concerns and helps them feel welcomed and comfortable. We have experience working with special needs patients, and ensuring they maintain strong and healthy smiles for years to come. Dr. Lathrop has an understanding for helping patients with special needs, as his oldest is on the spectrum.
Anesthesia and Sedation
Often, our patients may need dental sedation to help them remain calm and comfortable for minor procedures, such as checkups and cleanings, or treatment such as filling and crown placement. In addition to administering a local anesthesia to keep patients comfortable, we will offer sedation to help them enter a calm and relaxed state, with little to no memory of the procedure at all. We have nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, which is inhaled through a mask over the nose and creates a state of euphoria. The effects wear off once the procedure ends. For deeper states of calm, we could offer oral sedation in which we administer the calming agent in a pill or liquid form before the procedure. With IV, we provide the deepest form possible. The effects take time to wear off, but these can help whether our patient needs a simple cleaning or a tooth extraction.
Dental Technology
We also help our patients with the use of advanced technology. For example, using dental lasers means we can address an array of oral health concerns with precision and accuracy, and often little to no need for anesthesia. We can treat periodontal concerns, cavities, and even recontour the gum line. The lasers help prevent swelling, bleeding, and infection afterward, and are much more effective than scalpels and sutures.
Our team also uses digital x-rays to plan and make an accurate diagnosis and prevent the need for uncomfortable bite wings. With 3D printing, we use advanced technology to design and create restoration like crowns that we can then place in the same sitting, limiting the number of visits your family member will need.
Talk To Your Katy, TX Dentist About Scheduling Your Next Visit
For more information on our approach to family dentistry in our community, contact Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX today at 832-437-3849!
