Seattle Special Needs Dentistry

Special needs dentistry refers to the treatment of any patient who may have specific requirements for dental care, whether it is related to an issue like dental anxiety, or cognitive and physical development issues. Special needs dentistry encompasses a wide variety of patients who benefit from special care and attention. At Green Leaf Dental, we offer compassion and a highly-personalized approach for the treatment of both children and adults with special needs.  

Our goal is to provide personalized care to every patient. The first step in our treatment process is to meet with the patient or their parent/guardian and discuss their unique needs and medical conditions to gain an understanding of your specific preferences, sensitivities, or anything else we will need to know before beginning a procedure.
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Dr. Yoni will use this information to develop a treatment plan that will help you or your child stay comfortable throughout treatment. For a patient who may have a serious dental phobia, for example, we may recommend IV sedation or general anesthesia. For a child with a sensory processing disorder, we can take steps to reduce light levels and ambient noise if they have specific sensitivities to those. We take the time to understand the needs of each patient and deliver truly top-notch, safe service at our office.

One of the most unique things about Green Leaf Dental is that we specialize in general anesthesia for both children and adults.
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Our entire team is focused on caring for patients with compassion and personalized treatment. We understand that the typical noises and lights of the dental office can make some patients especially uncomfortable. Accordingly, we are prepared to take steps to reduce noise and light levels and provide headphones, sunglasses, and weighted aprons to ensure that every patient feels comfortable, welcome and safe throughout their entire visit. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Before you schedule your child’s first appointment, you will meet with Dr. Yoni. At this meeting, you will discuss your child’s health history, special needs, and other health challenges with you. You also may need to provide a list of all of the medication your child is taking, and discuss any recent health incidents or issues affecting their health.
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Using this information, we’ll be able to provide custom care based on your child’s condition, and ensure that they can stay safe at our office. For example, if your child is sensitive to light and sound, they can wear dark glasses and listen to music or watch videos during their appointment.
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Or, if your child has behavioral issues or is very scared of dentistry, we may opt to provide them with sedative drugs to take before their appointment, and we may recommend additional sedation with nitrous oxide, oral medication, or even an IV, depending on the situation. 
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Once we have fully prepared to meet your child’s special needs, they’ll come in for their first appointment at Green Leaf Dental. At this appointment, their teeth will be gently cleaned by a hygienist, and x-rays may be taken of their mouth to check for any hidden oral health issues. 
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Then, Dr. Yoni will conduct a comprehensive oral exam to make sure their mouth is healthy. You are welcome to stay in the room and stay with your child throughout this entire process to comfort them and ensure they feel safe and comfortable. 
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After their oral exam is complete, Dr. Yoni will discuss your child’s oral health with you, and any follow-ups that may be necessary to treat conditions like cavities and keep their mouth healthy. 
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At this point, our dental team can also answer any questions you may have about caring for your child’s mouth, and provide you with further guidance on how to keep their teeth and gums healthy. Once your child’s treatment is over, you’ll be able to schedule any necessary treatment with our office team, and you’ll be sent home.

This depends on your child, the extent and specifics of their special needs, their anxiety level when it comes to dentistry, and a lot of other factors. Sedation dentistry is often recommended for special needs patients because it makes things easier both for your child and for their dentist, but is not always necessary.
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At Green Leaf Dental, we do our best to keep your child feeling safe, comfortable, and happy even if they are not being sedated. Our children's dentists in Seattle use the latest behavior management techniques and a child-friendly approach to dental care to help your child have the best possible dentistry experience.
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However, this may not always be an option. Children with serious behavioral problems, who tend to move around a lot, or have other similar difficulties may need sedation to be treated successfully at our office. 
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After your consultation at Green Leaf Dental, you can trust Dr. Yoni to make the appropriate recommendation. We will not recommend sedation unless we believe it’s truly necessary for your child to receive the best possible dental care in Seattle.