At Smiles, special health care needs dentistry goes beyond excellent clinical expertise. It revolves around cultivating a sense of deep safety, building bonds of trust and fostering empathy, compassion and kindness. As an inclusive pediatric dental home, our goal is to make every visit a positive and empowering step towards optimal oral health. By collaborating closely with parents and support groups, and offering mindful, adaptive care accommodations, dental experiences can be softened and tailored to each of our special friends’ needs.
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry ·
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry ·
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry ·
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry ·
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry ·
Special Health Care Needs Dentistry defined:
Special needs dentistry, also known as Special Health Care Needs Dentistry, focuses on providing comprehensive dental care to individuals who require additional accommodations and special attention due to physical, developmental, behavioral, or medical conditions. This group includes children, adolescents and adults who are under the care of a caregiver.
Special care for special smiles:
We believe that open hearts lead to open conversations. Understanding the specifics of your child’s needs before their visit will help you and our team plan for a smooth interaction. A pre-appointment phone call will allow us better understanding of what preparations are helpful in creating a welcoming environment for your child. We invite you to bring any supportive toys or devices that your child enjoys, including their favorite toothbrush and familiar toothpaste.
Special services for special families:
It all starts with a tailored plan that fits your child’s specific needs. Individual plans are built with mindful consideration of your family’s lifestyle and routines. Many of our special friends benefit from more frequent visits to promote a bond of trust and familiarity with the dental experience. Oral hygiene education and facilitation are a major part of these visits. Cleanings and images can be comfortably introduced with a parent’s assistance. Preventative services such as fluoride and silver diamine fluoride remineralizing therapies are also achievable. Gentle restorative procedures can be completed with our Solea Laser unit and sedation options are available for more involved care.
Sedation Suite:
Special health care needs include physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive or emotional conditions that require specialized approaches to ensure comfort and well-being. Part of these approaches is facilitating necessary care with safe and effective sedation options. Ranging from minimal sedation with nitrous oxide to oral sedation and deep sedation or general anesthesia, our sedation solutions ensure that excellent dental care is paired with a gentle and compassionate approach.
The role of parents and caregivers:
Dental health care for children with special needs requires specialized knowledge as well as awareness and attention, adaptation and accommodative measures beyond what are considered routine. A supportive team is essential when caring for a child with special health care needs. Please consider us your partners when it comes to your child’s oral and dental wellness. We are happy to collaborate with other providers that help care for your child such as caregivers, healthcare professionals and of course, with you.
The Circle of Special Health Care Needs:
The Smiles approach to Special Needs Dentistry:
Hover or tap to reveal steps
1
Enhanced Communication: We engage parents and caregivers in discussions to gain insights on each child’s uniqueness. Using simple language, visual aids, or augmentative communication devices can help kids with special needs interact with our team.
2
Behavioral Encouragement Techniques: Introduction and desensitization visits to build trust, familiarize kids with our dental home and foster positive reinforcement and cooperation.
3
Adapted Office Environment: Our office is a street level, free standing building with available parking and a wheelchair ramp. Our space was entirely renovated according to the American Act of Disability (ADA) guidelines.
4
Sensory-friendly options, quite rooms and colored or dim lighting is readily available.
5
Specialized Training: Board-Certifed pediatric dental care in a State-of-the-art facility.
6
Collaboration with Other Professionals: We collaborate closely with physicians, therapists, and social workers to provide comprehensive care.
1
Enhanced Communication: We engage parents and caregivers in discussions to gain insights on each child’s uniqueness. Using simple language, visual aids, or augmentative communication devices can help kids with special needs interact with our team.
2
Behavioral Encouragement Techniques: Introduction and desensitization visits to build trust, familiarize kids with our dental home and foster positive reinforcement and cooperation.
3
Adapted Office Environment: Our office is a street level, free standing building with available parking and a wheelchair ramp. Our space was entirely renovated according to the American Act of Disability (ADA) guidelines.
4
Sensory-friendly options, quite rooms and colored or dim lighting is readily available.
5
Specialized Training: Board-Certifed pediatric dental care in a State-of-the-art facility.
6
Collaboration with Other Professionals: We collaborate closely with physicians, therapists, and social workers to provide comprehensive care.
FAQs for Special Health Care Needs Dentistry:
What should I expect for my special needs child’s dental visit?
Allow us to preplan the visit together through a phone call. This way we can all be well prepared to care for your child with trust and comfort. Please share with us your best strategies to help your child relax. Bring along any emotional support objects that your child enjoys. Using our gentle behavioral techniques, we will softly explain and demonstrate how we complete a dental exam and what a dental cleaning is like. The visit moves in small steps and is segmented to allow your child periods of rest and recuperation as they steadily move forward in continued strides.
What adaptive care techniques are available?
With a goal of achieving comfort, we are happy to tailor visits to what best suits your child. The dental environment is full of sensory stimuli. If light, noise levels or textures need to be adjusted, we will plan on doing so. The time of day that your child comes in is also an important factor. Please let us know about your child’s sleep and nap pattern so that we can pair them with a time that ensures freshness and cooperation.
How can I prepare my special needs child for their dental visit?
Healthy oral habits certainly lead to dental well-being but they also help familiarize your child with routine oral care. When you are consistent with brushing your child’s teeth, you will help them to feel relaxed and safe when we complete an oral exam and cleaning. Please bring along any emotional support toys that your child enjoys. Reading books about going to the dentist and sharing our office videos will be helpful in preparing your child for an excellent experience.
Brighter smiles, faster healing, light and care—this is the evolution of laser dentistry.
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Solea® and Gemini™ lasers help us provide safe, comfortable, and modern dental care for kids and teens. Our latest blog takes you inside the evolution of laser technology in dentistry—from light to healing.
Blog 👉 https://smilesla.com/pediatric-dentistry-orthodontics/light-to-healing-the-evolution-of-laser-in-pediatric-dentistry
Written by our wonderful Dr. Reem, this article traces the journey of dental lasers from Einstein’s early vision to today’s advanced Solea® and Gemini™ systems, showing how this innovation is shaping the future of pediatric care and transforming smiles with comfort and precision.
💬 Curious about the benefits of laser dentistry? Share your thoughts or questions below!
📩 Contact us to see how lasers can make your child’s next visit gentler.
📞 Phone: (310) 837-6453
📧 Email: info@smilesla.com
📍 West LA
💡 From light to healing — intelligent, gentle, and supportive care every step of the way.
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #LaserDentistry #SoleaLaser #GeminiLaser #lightheals #LightHealing #DentalInnovation #LaserEvolution #oralcare #parentsneedtoknow #foryou #explorepage #solealaser
Why do my child’s permanent teeth seem yellower than the baby ones?
👀✨ Why do your child’s permanent teeth look yellower than their baby teeth? Swipe to discover this smile secret! ➡️🦷💛
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we believe every smile tells a story — and we’re here to nurture yours with gentle care and the latest technology. Your child’s smile journey is important to us, and we’re honored to support healthy, confident smiles in a warm, welcoming space right here in West Los Angeles. 🌟😊
Ready to give your child’s smile the care it deserves? We’re here to help with kindness and expertise every step of the way. Reach out anytime — we can’t wait to meet you! 🤗💫
📞 (310) 837-6453
✉️ info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Healthy smiles start here! 💛🦷
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #pediatricorthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist# #PediatricOrthodontistWestLosAngeles #BrighterSmiles #TeethWhitening #YellowTeeth #WestLA
💛 Your child’s smile is just the beginning — there’s a whole hidden world of teeth waiting to grow in. 🧡
✨ Many parents wonder why their child will have more permanent teeth than baby teeth. The answer lies in how permanent teeth develop behind the 20 baby teeth 🦷💛. All baby teeth are eventually replaced, but permanent molars also grow in behind—first molars, second molars, and later wisdom teeth 🌟.
💛 At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’re dedicated to supporting every stage of your child’s dental growth with compassionate, expert care 🤗.Ready to start your journey with us? Call today.
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West Los Angeles
Caring for bright smiles and confident kids with heart and expertise 💛🦷
#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #PermanentTeeth #BabyTeeth #DentalDevelopment #WestLA #KidsDentist #BabyteethMatter
💭 Not every wisdom tooth needs to go — but how do you know which ones can stay? 🦷💛🧡
Wisdom teeth removal isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Some grow in healthy and aligned, while others become impacted or cause crowding. At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we monitor each teen’s dental development with care so families can make the right choice at the right time.
💬 Have you or your teen kept your wisdom teeth? Or did you need them removed? Share your story in the comments — your experience could help another parent.
📩 Wondering if your teen’s wisdom teeth should be monitored or removed? Send us a DM or call our office for a personalized consultation.
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Caring for bright smiles and confident kids with heart and expertise 💛🧡
#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #WisdomTeethRemoval #KeepingWisdomTeeth #TeenDentalCare #ImpactedWisdomTeeth #OralSurgeryForTeens
💛 Your baby’s first challenges aren’t always visible — sometimes, they’re hidden in their mouth. 🧡
Welcoming a baby is joyful, but learning to breastfeed can be a challenge, especially when issues like tongue-tie or lip-tie make feeding more difficult. At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we understand that breastfeeding is a skill — for both parent and baby — and it takes time, patience, and the right care and support to make it work. 🤱👶
Have you experienced challenges with your baby’s feeding journey? Share your story with us — your insight might help another parent feel less alone.
If you have questions about tongue- or lip-ties, or think your baby might need an evaluation, we’re here to help with compassionate, evidence-based care. Send us a DM or call our office today.
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
💛 Gentle care for little smiles, right from the very beginning. 🧡
#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #KidsDentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #TongueTieAwareness #LipTieSupport
🦷 Your teen’s last set of molars could be their trickiest. Do you know why? 💛🧡
Wisdom teeth are the final molars to appear — but they don’t always arrive quietly. They can crowd, shift, or become impacted, leading to pain or infection if not monitored closely. At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we help families understand when these teeth need a little extra attention.
💬 Have your teen’s wisdom teeth started coming in? Share your experience below — we’d love to hear your story.
📩 If you’re noticing swelling, discomfort, or crowding, message us or call today to schedule an evaluation.
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Caring for bright smiles and confident kids with heart and expertise 💛🧡
#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentist #PediatricOrthodontist #WestLosAngeles #WisdomTeeth #ImpactedWisdomTeeth #OralSurgeryForTeens #DentalCrowding #HealthyTeenSmiles #WisdomTeethRemoval
✨ Wondering how many baby teeth your little one will have? Most children develop 20 baby teeth — 10 on the top and 10 on the bottom — setting the foundation for a healthy smile 🌟🦷.
💛 At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’re here to support your family’s dental journey with gentle, expert care every step of the way 🤗.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West Los Angeles
📞 (310) 837-6453
📧 info@smilesla.com
Caring for bright smiles and confident kids with heart and expertise 💛🦷
#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #BabyTeethCount #GentlePediatricDentistry
#WestLA
#PediatricDentist
#KidsDentist
#babyteethmatter
#PediatricOrthodontist
Why does my child grind their teeth at night?
😴🦷 Notice your child grinding their teeth at night? Wonder why it happens? Swipe to find out! ➡️✨
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we know every family’s smile journey is unique. We’re here to offer gentle, expert care in a warm and welcoming environment right here in West Los Angeles — supporting your child’s health and happiness every step of the way. 💛😊
If you’re curious or concerned about your child’s nighttime habits, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to help with kindness and care.
📞 (310) 837-6453
✉️ info@smilesla.com
📍 10582 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064
Sweet dreams and healthy smiles start here! 💛🦷
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#SmilesPediatricDentistryandOrthodontics #pediatricorthodontics #kidsdentist #PediatricDentistWestLosAngeles #PediatricOrthodontistWestLosAngeles #HealthySmiles #BruxismAwareness #FamilyDentistry #WestLA
