Braces For Your Special Needs Child? Three Things To Consider Before Asking Your Dentist To Proceed

Braces are one of the most expensive investments parents can make for their children, but also one of the most invaluable. When you have a special needs child, it becomes more of a question of "should" than "have to" for various reasons. Before you ask a children's dental care specialist to proceed with braces for your special needs child, consider the following.

The Severity of Your Child's Disability

Sometimes a child's disability is so severe that braces may only add to the challenges you face as a parent. Braces can cause mouth pain and headaches, and if you have a child with moderate to severe cerebral palsy or autism, this could make their outbursts more frequent and more difficult to treat. 

Cosmetic vs. Necessity

If your child also requires a feeding tube for nutrition, then braces may be more cosmetic than essential. You have to ask yourself, "Are braces for my child more of a cosmetic preference than a necessity?" If your child does not chew his or her own food, is nonverbal and likely to remain so, or has a disease that weakens bone structure, then braces are more of a cosmetic thing. If your child can speak and is working on language development, chews or tries to chew his or her own food and has trouble, and does not have a disabling condition that would impede the process of straightening his or her teeth, then the braces may be deemed necessary.

Your Child's Potential

In some cases, providing braces for a child with mild to moderate special needs may actually increase some of his or her abilities. For example, a child who has a difficult time chewing his or her food because the teeth came in with wide gaping spaces may soon discover that the braces make it easier to chew and to eat. Likewise, a child with autism may gain better control over the movement of his or her tongue and jaws, thereby granting him or her the ability to speak better and clearer than before because of the new braces. Each child is a different case, and you will want to see a few different specialists to determine if braces can help or hinder your child with special needs. 

Special Adjustments to Dental Care for Children with Special Needs

Additionally, there are some ways around the potential challenges that would come with having braces and retainers in your child's mouth. Because braces feel strange and distracting, plastic brackets may be used in place of metal ones, which could cut your child's lips, tongue and cheeks if they are in the habit of striking themselves (often referred to as "self-stimming" or self-stimulating behaviors). Semi-permanent retainers are adhered to the backs of your child's teeth instead of using a removable retainer, and most of the procedures are conducted under general anesthesia if your child is unable to sit quietly in the exam chair.

To contact a pediatric dentist for more information, check out websites like this one: http://www.childrensdent.com.