Oral health for children with special needs

When a child has special needs, it can be easy to overlook going to the dentist, but healthy teeth are important for a healthy body. Benefits of strong, healthy teeth include:

Less or no tooth pain
Healthy permanent teeth
Fewer missed school days

Better school performance
Reduced chance of lower self-esteem
Reduced chance of delays in all areas of growth

Child with Down syndrome, pigtails and glasses smiling

Parents and caregivers

Parents play a key role in helping their children feel confident and comfortable at the dentist. The following resources offer practical guidance to support families in promoting optimal dental care at home and preparing for successful dental visits.

Social stories are visual stories that explain what to expect and how to act in social situations—like a dental appointment. These are especially helpful for children with special needs, but beneficial for all children. Illustrated versions are available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Children who are non-verbal or have limited vocabulary, using tools like Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) can help reduce anxiety and improve cooperation during the visit.

By fostering positive attitudes and healthy habits early on, parents can set the stage for a lifetime of good oral health. Following these simple Tips to help your child at the dentist can help build confidence and establish strong dental care routines—both before and during the visit.

This fillable Visit Support Tool is designed to be given to healthcare providers to communicate key information on how to best support your child during their appointment. It is tailored to your child’s unique communication and sensory needs and should be kept visible and actively used throughout the visit to ensure your child’s needs are understood and respected.

ABCD's main program page has additional strategies to support children's oral health.

Tools for parents, caregivers and providers

Tips at dentist

List of tips for parents to help child at the dentist

Visit Support Tool

Fillable document on how providers can best support you during an appointment

Tips for dentists

handout with recommendations for dentists on how to care for children with specific needs

Sensory menu

Handout with pictures of items for children to choose when they visit the dentist.

Dental office tips

Providing dental care for children with special needs can be rewarding and challenging. Here are some tips for providing care to children with special needs. Evidence-based and expert recommended practices can help children with special needs be more comfortable and cooperative at dental offices.

Here are some tips for providing care to children with special needs:

Ask what accommodations child may need
Be flexible in meeting child's needs
Celebrate small victories

Empower the child
Offer positive reinforcement and specific praise
Offer pre-visit visualization
Offer sensory adaptations

Seek help if needed
Use picture exchange communication
View parents as partners

Continuing education opportunities for dentists

The Center for Persons with Disabilities Presentation Series offers free webinars to dentists and their support personnel on caring for persons with special needs. Webinars are aimed at building awareness of the barriers to equitable oral health for individuals with disabilities and developing competency to provide oral health care to this vulnerable population. Dentists completing 18 or more of the courses within a three-year period will receive a certificate of completion from Penn Dental Medicine as a Disabilities Dentistry Clinician Expert.

Access to Baby and Children Dentistry statewide program recruits and trains providers to care for Apple Health (Medicaid) insured children from birth to six years old for enhanced fees. ABCD Phase III expansion training covers children with specific healthcare needs through age 12. Dentists attending this training can earn 1 continuing education credit. For more information on ABCD training, email Anna Cruz, ABCD Community Health Specialist for Clark County.

Sensory kits for dental offices

Sensory kits are an effective way to support children during medical or dental appointments. They empower kids to choose the tools that help them feel more comfortable, promoting a more positive and successful visit.

These kits often include items like noise-canceling headphones, fidget toys, stress balls, weighted lap pads, and visual schedules—each designed to help reduce anxiety and sensory overload.

If you would like to create your own sensory kit for home or office, here are a few ideas and supporting documents to get started:

Additional resources

University of Washington School of Dentistry and Washington Department of Health created fact sheets on a variety of diagnoses. These include tips for dental care and guidance on scheduling appointments.
ABCD program page has information on Apple Health dental coverage for children.
Children and youth with special health care needs program strives to ensure children with complex health needs have the resources and support they need.

For more information, email Anna Cruz, ABCD Community Health Specialist, or call 564.397.7371. Ingles- Español.