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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
USC Pediatric Residents + Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics = A perfect combo for fun and surprises! 😄🎉
We had the absolute pleasure of welcoming future pediatric dentists from USC into our practice — and they brought the energy, compassion, and curiosity that make this field so special! 🦷💫
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA, we believe learning should be hands-on, joyful, and filled with smiles — whether you`re a student, a patient, or a parent. Our team loves mentoring the next generation of dental professionals while creating a warm, uplifting space for families.
📞 Want your child to experience compassionate, forward-thinking care in a place that inspires future dentists too?
Call (310) 837-6453 to schedule your visit today!
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🍼 Did you know most parents underestimate this number? 🦷 🦷 🦷
“How many baby teeth do children have?” might seem simple — but the answer surprises a lot of people!
👀 Swipe to find out — and learn why these little teeth matter more than you think.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA, where tiny teeth get top-tier care. 💛
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#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #WestLA #BabyTeethFacts #PediatricDentistWestLA #KidsDentalCare #ChildrensOralHealth #ToothTrivia #HealthySmilesStartYoung
Besties get tooth glam at Smiles! ✨🦷
Chloe Alivia (@chloealivia8073) came in with her bestie Izzy (Dr. Reem’s daughter!) — and got an amazing smile sparkle from Dr. Reem herself 💫
Mom Adora (@jercha385) joined for the visit too, making it a full heart, full smile kind of day 💖
We’re all about turning dental care into a confident, joyful experience — especially when it’s shared with friends ✨
📞 Want your child to experience personalized, tech-forward care in a warm, family-friendly space?
Call (310) 837-6453 or DM us to schedule your visit with Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA.
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#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #WestLA #PediatricDentistLA #KidsDentalCare #FamilyDentistWestLA #ChloeAlivia #ToothGlam #ModernPediatricDentistry
🪥💡 Manual vs. electric: Which toothbrush wins for kids?
It`s a question we hear from parents all the time — and the answer might surprise you!
Hint: it’s not just about the brush — it’s about how it’s used 😉
👉👉 👉 Swipe to find out what we recommend at Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA
Follow for more dental health care tips!
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#SmilesPediatricDentistryAndOrthodontics #WestLA #KidsToothbrushTips #ElectricVsManualtoothbrush #PediatricDentistLA #OralHealthForKids #BrushingHabits #FamilyDentistWestLA #DentalTipsForParents
CAD and 3D printing in pediatric dentistry, everything you ever wanted to know- Blog 😍👇
https://smilesla.com/pediatric-dentistry-orthodontics/cad-computer-aided-design-3d-printing-technologies-pediatric-dentistry-west-la/
Custom, same-day dental care for kids and teens is now possible with leading-edge CAD and 3D printing in pediatric dentistry 🦷✨ — bringing comfort, precision, and speed to every smile.
Say goodbye to messy impressions and hello to digital scans, beautifully fitted appliances, and treatments designed just for your child 💻🖨️ — from mouthguards to space maintainers and more, at Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA
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#PediatricDentistLA #3DPrintingInDentistry #KidsDentalCare #ChildrensDentistLA #DigitalDentistry #FamilyDentistWestLA #DentalInnovation #3DPediatricCare #CAD
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Pediatric Dentist explains CAD and 3D Printing
Some of the most common things we believed about dental care for years? 🚫 Turns out… science had other plans.
Can you guess which ones got totally flipped? 🧠🦷
👉 Swipe to find out what modern pediatric dentistry looks like now.
Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics in West LA, a dental home
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One home. One team. 🏡💙💛🧡
At Smiles Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our vision is rooted in providing efficient, comprehensive care — all under one yellow roof! From first teeth to full orthodontics, we’ve got your child’s smile covered, every step of the way.
#dentalhome #SmilesPediatricDentistryOrthodontics #ComprehensiveCare #PediatricDentist #OrthodonticsForKids #HealthySmiles #AllUnderOneRoof #FamilyDentalCare #LA
Dental emergencies can be scary — especially when a permanent tooth is involved! 😬
What should you do if your child chips or knocks out a permanent tooth?
➡️ Swipe to learn the steps that could save their smile.
#DentalEmergency #KidsToothCare #SmilesPediatricDentistryOrthodontics #PermanentTooth #ParentDentalTips #HealthySmiles #LA
