At Route 23 Pediatric Dentistry, Dr. Jason Rosenfeld is committed to providing patients with superior dental care. In our conveniently located Butler/ Kinnelon pediatric dental office, exceptional children receive a personalized approach providing additional accommodations to ensure that immediate and long-term oral health is maintained.
Treating Children with Autism
Children with autism can experience challenges with oral health care due to discomfort in the dentist office environment and the special attention they require. Children who are autistic, along with family members and caregivers, may encounter the following obstacles to a healthy smile:
· Oral sensitivity which makes home care and routine office hygiene visits challenging
· Parental concern that the child’s dental visit may cause discomfort
· Development of habits such as constant chewing, biting and grinding that wear down teeth
· Snacks laden with sugar used as rewards for positive behavior
· The child’s inability and/or hesitancy to express oral discomfort or other related difficulties.
Building Trust with the Patient and the Parent
Our practice addresses children’s unique needs in a manner that enhances their comfort. Dr. Rosenfeld and the team are highly experienced in providing excellent preventive and restorative care while creating a positive experience during the dental visit. We encourage parents and caregivers to treat each appointment as a learning experience and to ask questions so that the child becomes a dental patient and each visit a success.
Establishing a Place of Comfort
Dr. Rosenfeld and the team carefully plan treatment according to your child’s comfort level and will discuss ahead of time what to expect. Preparing children with autism in anticipation of their trip to the dentist can be very helpful in easing anxiety so that the visit with the dentist is calm and successful. Creating a visual schedule, story or picture book can be helpful in preparing children for their visit to the dentist. As with the sensory avoidance routine, it will help to practice each step until your child understands and feels comfortable with each part of the process before moving on.
Before the initial appointment, feel free to schedule a tour of the office which will allow them to become familiar with our child-friendly setting and feel more comfortable. Discuss with us your child’s individual needs, concerns and challenges with Dr. Rosenfeld before the appointment. We encourage patients to interact with us during the cleanings and checkups to build trust between the dentist and the patient. Our goal is to make each visit a fun outing and each patient a dental patient.
Sedation
Our primary goal is to make your child comfortable via communication and care. However, some children need more assistance. For patients who need additional comfort, we provide options for sedation. Inhaled and oral conscious sedation allow patients to feel comfortable and relaxed during their visit. This option is also an option for children who require more extensive care in a single appointment. Our own anesthesiologist, Dr. Gordon Barnes, MD/DMD, performs all conscious sedation cases in the office. Dr. Barnes ensures safety by continuously monitoring the patient and protects our patients from being treated in a surgery center or hospital setting. Please read our other pages which explain sedation in depth.
