Special Care Dentistry
Special Care Dentistry is the branch of dentistry that provides oral care services for people with physical, medical, developmental, or cognitive conditions which limit their ability to receive routine dental care.
What Sets a Special Care Dentistry Practice Apart From the Rest?
At Elements Dentistry, we understand that as our loved ones age out of pediatric care or require geriatric care, it can be difficult to find a dental home where they feel comfortable and that avoids sending them directly to hospitals. Often, we find our patients have had to wait lengthy hospital enrollment periods and then wait again for space in the operating room, without any dental care in the transitional period.
Our goal at Elements Dentistry is to create a space where our patients can do as much or as little treatment as they feel comfortable, progressing toward dental health at their pace. Both Drs. Tiffany and Trisha Vo believe that all special care patients deserve a dental home (whether transitional or permanent) that understands and adapts to their needs. They are committed to getting to know their patients preferences and boundaries of care, while making sure that all treatment and preventative care is done with the patient’s best interests at heart. Our practice is optimized with special care patients in mind, and our providers and team are trained to provide the best care to all patients, regardless of their particular needs.
A Low-Pressure First Visit
Sometimes, that means that your loved one’s first dental visit to Elements Dentistry might literally mean a simple visit to the reception area. Our doctors are happy to meet patients and their families face-to-face there, giving space for the patient to get to know the dental team without any white coats in the way.
We’re happy to give in person tours of the office as well to show how the dental treatment rooms can be modified to accommodate your loved one’s physical limitations. Our biggest treatment room has plenty of space for a wheelchair or even a gurney-bound patient. Each treatment room has an adjustable, comfortable dental chair. Once in a while, we have patients who are too intimidated to sit in the dental chair – and that’s okay! We have other traditional chairs available to help the experience feel more manageable.
What about a young patient who has a hard time sitting still? We’ve even got yoga mats for our patients who like for our team to be on the same level as them and prefer having the space to sprawl out. It’s a great way to help the appointment feel more like playtime instead of “medical time.”
The Elements Difference
“Tell-Show-Do” Desensitization
Some patients have anxiety over getting dental work done because they feel like so much of the procedure can be out of their control. Since dental work primarily happens in the mouth and they can’t see what’s happening, they feel even more powerless. To help the patient feel more empowered and informed, when it comes time to do actual dental treatment, both our doctors like to practice “Tell-Show-Do”.
- Tell: we describe the procedure for the patient so that they have an idea of what to expect.
- Show: we’ll show the patient some of the tools we’ll be using and demonstrate parts of the procedure for them so they can see some of the tools in action.
- Do: we slowly start to do the actual procedure. Sometimes we segment the treatment into smaller chunks so that the patient can take breaks and we can check in with them to see how they’re feeling.
What Other Comfort Options Are Available?
All of our patients have access to different things to make the overall treatment experience as relaxing as possible. This includes:
- different media options for the TV. We’ve got access to YouTube, Disney+, and National Geographic if there’s a particular entertainment that can work as a distraction during the appointment.
- ear plugs. Sometimes the sounds of the dental office can be overstimulating. Patients are welcome to bring noise-canceling headphones if they prefer, or we can provide disposable ear plugs for them to use during their visit.
- dimmable lights and sunglasses. Not everyone likes the bright overhead lights, so every patient gets to wear sunglasses to help protect their eyes. We can dim the lights even further to create a more soothing environment.
- weighted blankets. Aside from helping our patients feel warm, Elements Dentistry and many of our patients are fans of the Wallaby weighted blanket, which is a therapeutic hug blanket designed to reduce stress and create a calming environment. We are proud to be part of the Wallaby Provider Network as experts in Autism and Dementia Dentistry.
- laser dentistry. For more information on how the Solea laser can help you, contact our office or book a consultation with one of our doctors.
- sedation options, such as nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or IV sedation. For more information on sedation services at Elements Dentistry contact our office or book a consultation with one of our doctors.