Many pediatric dentists also specialize in the treatment of children with special needs. People who are diagnosed with special needs may have unique oral health issues that accompany their condition. Here is a bit of information about the dental concerns of a child with special needs and how to select a suitable dentist to treat a special needs patient.
Dental Problems Related to Special Needs
Some dental issues often present themselves in children with special needs.
There are a number of ways in which your child can be more susceptible to cavities in their teeth, but fortunately, most of these are easily avoided. This is largely achieved by regulating the amount of sugar and other potentially teeth-damaging compounds in your child's diet, while encouraging them to maintain the highest possible standard level of oral hygiene, supervising younger children as needed. So why does it seem like some children are more susceptible to cavities, and is there anything more you can do to protect your child's dental health?
Definition of Prognathism
Prognathism, or Habsburg jaw, is a face abnormality that causes the jaws to protrude. Prognathism results from the upper teeth covering the lower ones or vice versa, making it difficult to chew, breathe, or speak. Additionally, prognathism can lead to speech development problems in children. For instance, kids may experience poor word pronunciation or lisp development. Besides, your child's permanent teeth may grow at the wrong angle. Prognathism occurs in the following ways:
Oral surgeons address a wide array of problems, many of which normal dentists cannot fix. In order to gain all of the necessary skills, oral surgeons have to go through many more years of schooling and training than dentists. While dentists just have to pass licensure exam to practice in their area after completing their schooling, oral surgeons also have to complete an additional four-to-six-year surgical residency. This allows them to gain important hands-on experience while still being under the watchful eye of a more accomplished mentor.
Braces are a long-term commitment that requires discipline and care on a daily basis, both during and after treatment. If you plan to undergo orthodontic treatment, then you may be wondering what comes after. However, even after your orthodontic treatment ends, you still need to remain disciplined. By keeping the following points in mind, you'll be ready to care for your newly straightened teeth once your braces finally come off.
