Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society

Help

I'm looking for:

Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society

667 US-51 Suite C
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-385-DOWN (3696)

Facebook Twitter

Dental Visits

Make a First Dental Appointment

Once you have identified a dental home for your child (see our suggested dentists here), the next step is to set up an appointment.

All children are different, and your child may or may not enjoy a trip to the dentist. If challenges present themselves, communication between the family, the physician, and the dentist is the key to adapting and overcoming them. Children with Down syndrome may have medical conditions. These may include cardiac or seizure disorders that require attention prior to beginning dental treatment. Both your primary care physician and your dentist can help to create a treatment plan that prioritizes what is most important for your child. Gaining the child’s trust is extremely important in the success of the treatment. Consistency and familiarity will increase the chance your child will cooperate in the treatment.

Tips for Your First Dental Visit

  1. Familiarize yourself and your child with the practice.
    Ask the practice if you both could come and meet with the dentist and the staff and see the facility. Some practices are open to this option. This will give your child a chance to be more familiar with the environment prior to getting any type of treatment done.
  2. Time your appointment.
    You know your child and their everyday routine the best. Therefore, you can request an appointment at a time of day when you think your child will be the least tired from their daily activities and routine. We recommend setting up an appointment earlier in the day to minimize your time spent waiting and the chance of fatigue.
  3. Prepare.
    Prepare to discuss all aspects of your child’s health with their dentist. Be sure to bring contact information for all your child’s healthcare providers. This will allow the dentist to consult and discuss dental treatment plans with them if needed.
  4. Create a treatment plan.
    Communication should occur between the family and the dentist to establish a good medical history. This will allow the dentist to gain an understanding of your child’s needs. This will also allow the family to bring attention to any special concerns they may have regarding their child, such as tactile or auditory sensitivities/aversions. Reviewing the medical history and constructing a treatment plan will greatly increase the likelihood of a successful visit.

For any questions regarding dentistry for children with Down syndrome, please contact us.