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.