Special Care for Special Teeth

by Amy Sharp

Children with developmental disabilities may require more attention than others. And often, they’re situation is more difficult than other children when it comes to routine parts of life like dental visits. As a result, many special needs parents put off taking their special needs child to the dentist for years. Dr. Faisal Khan, founder of local Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental, says, “Many individuals with special needs are at higher risk for developing dental and oral diseases. We do not recommend delaying routine dental care.”

“We can accommodate most special needs kids in our office,” continues Dr. Khan. “My staff understands that some kids are sensitive to touch, new people, or a change of environment or routine. Tell us about your child’s limitations, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them. We can do simple things like ensure your child is seen by the same dental hygienist, who will wear the same outfit as their prior visit, while also treating the child in the same room and chair. Depending on the situation, we have mild sedation options available. For kids with needs that just can’t be met in a dental chair, we offer hospital dentistry. Sometimes it’s the most compassionate approach for children who struggle with medical or emotional challenges.”

Dr. Khan completed his general practice residency at Montefiore Medical Ctr/ Albert Einstein Medical School. He then pursued a fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical School in Special Care Dentistry, which allowed Dr. Khan to obtain extensive training in working with children with various complicated medical and physical disabilities. He has received extensive training in behavior management, sedation, and a variety of other techniques to make sure your special needs child is comfortable throughout each visit, based on their health needs.

While all children yearn for gentle and caring dental care, caring for a special needs patient takes extraordinary amounts of compassion and understanding. Dr. Khan and his team, including Dr. Priyanshi Ritwik and Dr. Annie Zheng, are committed to making your child’s dental care as comfortable and easy as possible.

Grand Parkway Pediatric Dental

Dr. Faisal M. Khan, DDS 832-246-7255

7910 W. Grand Parkway S., Suite 100 Richmond, TX 77406 www.grandparkwaypediatricdental.com