All children are welcome to Ocean Pediatric Dental Associates and deserve quality dental care. Many children find going to the dentist difficult or traumatic. Opposition to basic dental hygiene, limited or poor diet, physical disability, sensory issues, and resistance to professional dental care can be obstacles to oral health.
Children with physical and developmental disabilities, including conditions that affect behavior and cognition, often have limitations in their abilities to perform activities of daily living, including dental hygiene. They may have special healthcare needs as well. Examples include children with various syndromes, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, craniofacial anomalies, and other health conditions.
We are here to HELP. We treat all children. Ocean Pediatric Dental Associates provides a fun, child-friendly environment.
In addition, all our dentists have two years of additional training to specialize in care of children, including those with special needs. Our dentists and staff continue their education by taking courses every year that include special-care dentistry.
Dr. Elisa Velazquez is also a staff dentist for Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River, NJ. She served as the staff dentist for The Arc of Ocean County (an organization for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities) for six years.
Ocean Pediatric Dental works with hundreds of children with ASD. Children with autism sometimes have difficulties at the dentist. Many children on the spectrum have severe oral aversions and hypersensitivity.
Another symptom of ASD is social skills deficits. Lack of social skills can add to problem behavior for many children in a dental setting. To help prepare your child for a dental visit, here are a few helpful hints:
