27
September
Dental Care and Special Needs: One Journey My son, Isaac, was diagnosed with autism at age 2 and a half. I started taking him to a pediatric dentist at age 3. By the time he was about age 6, the pediatric dentist could not handle him. The dentist suggested that I find a dental practice that was more suitable to Isaac’s needs. We live in the Boston area, which is known to be a medical mecca. Surely, I could find something for him here. First I tried the famous Boston Children’s Hospital. Because of Isaac’s inability to cooperate, they suggested.
By: Irene Tanzman Part 1 of 2 in series… Children and adults with special needs often have routine dental care under general anesthesia. Prominent dental schools all over the US teach dental students that this is the way to treat severe special needs individuals who cannot tolerate routine dental procedures. These individuals may appear to have limited understanding. Just knock them out every two years or so, and do all the dental work under general anesthesia. With this plan in place we never really know the status of the individual’s dental hygiene until they are under general anesthesia. So what.