Dental Needs of Your Child with a Hearing Impairment

Dental Needs of Your Child with a Hearing Impairment

Of every 1,000 children born in the United States, between two and three have a detectable level of hearing loss in one or both ears. If your child has a hearing impairment, you know that medical and dental appointments can be a challenge. As dental professionals trained to deal with many special health care needs, we are committed to providing the best dental care possible, tailored to your child’s unique needs and abilities.

When you bring your child in for an appointment at KiDDS Dental, we will first assess speech, language ability and the degree of hearing impairment, so that we can best communicate with your child. We will also eliminate background noise to help us communicate with your child to the best of his or her abilities. If your child reads lips, we will remove our masks when speaking.

When preparing to perform a dental procedure, we will employ the tell–show–do approach, explaining and showing your child what we are going to do so there are no surprises. Dr. Jared and his clinical team want your child to understand what dental equipment we will use and how we will use it before treatment begins―that helps make your child feel more comfortable and relaxed during the procedure.

Children with hearing impairments may also have special dental needs, which we can assess and treat. They are more likely to breathe through their mouths―that can lead to increased risks of dry mouth, dental cavities and gum disease. Studies have shown that dental hygiene education tailored to children with hearing impairments improves their dental hygiene and health. That makes it especially important for these children to receive frequent preventive care and adhere to a regular regimen of dental hygiene.

When you schedule an appointment at KiDDS Dental, let us know that your child has difficulty hearing. Regardless of your child’s special health care needs and challenges, we are equipped and committed to ensuring that he or she has the healthiest smile possible. 

Give us a call at 509-891-7070 to schedule.

Dental Injuries and ADHD

Dental Injuries and ADHD

The causes of dental trauma—injuries to the teeth and mouth area—traditionally have been classified by a child’s oral developmental stage. Injuries to a child’s baby teeth tend to occur from falls and accidents related to the fact that the child is still learning to walk and run, and hasn’t yet fully developed his senses of balance and space. During the time period when baby teeth are being replaced with permanent teeth (transitional dentition), accidents are more likely to result from outdoor activities such as running and bicycling. But falls are still a major factor during this period, with some studies suggesting that falls account for up to 40% of all dental injuries in the transitional dentition.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may become apparent before age 7. Children with ADHD often demonstrate poor impulse control, hyperactivity and inattentiveness. Since accidents and falls are the most frequent cause of dental trauma in children, it seems logical that children suffering from ADHD could be more prone to dental trauma than are their peers.

A recent study conducted at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, compared a group of children each of whom a history of recent dental trauma with a group of children without dental trauma. The children’s parents completed the ADHD Rating Scale IV, a form that evaluates children for ADHD and its two component parts: (1) inattention and (2) hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Interestingly, based on the rating scale, both groups of children averaged similar scores for ADHD and for inattention. However, the group of children with dental trauma scored significantly higher for hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Children with ADHD are more at risk than other children for cavities and are more likely to grind their teeth. And these children’s behavioral issues can make visits to KiDDS Dental more difficult for the child and the parent. Parents of children with ADHD should make sure their children use seat belts, bike helmets and mouth guards to help minimize the chances of dental trauma. And they should foster an early and trusting relationship between their child and his dentist.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared today! Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.