Special Needs Dentistry in Citrus Heights
Where Everyone Is Welcome
At Weideman Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’re committed to providing the best dental and orthodontic care for everyone — regardless of their developmental, physical, cognitive, behavioral, or other special healthcare needs.
Families who have members with special healthcare needs appreciate the safe, understanding environment we provide.
Please rest assured that our friendly, expert, and well-trained team will give your special care member the attention and gentleness they need to have a positive, successful dental experience.
Our Why
After almost 50 years of working with individuals and families who face growing and changing challenges daily, we’re committed to making dentistry accessible for individuals with special healthcare needs.
As specialists in pediatrics and orthodontics, we’re passionate about making dentistry accepting and comfortable for patients diagnosed with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and long-standing medical conditions.
We believe that everyone should have the chance to have a beautiful, healthy smile for life, and we work with families to achieve what sometimes seems impossible.
Trustworthy Care for Children & Adults
With Special Needs
Providing dental and orthodontic care to children and adults with special needs or complex health conditions requires specialized expertise and compassion.
At Weideman Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, our board-certified pediatric dentists have passed rigorous training and examination processes to provide compassionate care for children and adults with special needs and health conditions, including:
- Autism
- Down syndrome
- Congenital heart disease
- Muscular dystrophy
- Cerebral palsy
- Intellectual difficulties
Our highly skilled, award-winning team of hygienists, dental assistants, and orthodontic assistants have the experience, compassion, and willingness to take the time needed to help special needs patients feel comfortable during appointments and procedures and wearing braces or Invisalign clear aligners.
What to Expect at Special Needs Dental Appointments
At Weideman Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we understand that every patient is unique, and we strive to create a comfortable and supportive environment for everyone — including parents.
That’s why we begin with a Getting-to-Know-You Appointment.
Getting-to-Know-You Appointment
These friendly appointments allow your child the space to get comfortable with our environment, staff, and dental instruments without other children in the office. You’re also welcome to bring your child in to see our dental office before the date of the dental appointment to familiarize them with it.
This first appointment is no cost and can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the needs of your child.
This visit is encouraged for patients with anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (AS), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other special healthcare needs.
We look forward to building a lifelong friendship with you and your child. Please call (916) 962-0577 and ask any questions you may have about our Special Care Dental experience or to schedule a Getting-to-Know-You appointment today.
Follow-Up Dental Appointments
The most important and joyful aspect for our team is getting to know our patients and their families — not just at the Getting-to-Know-You appointment but throughout their smile journey as well.
We’ll give your child with special healthcare needs the attention and gentleness they require for a positive, comfortable, successful experience where they’ll feel confident and safe.
We’re equipped to comfort your child throughout their dental appointment. We have individual iPads and TVs to play games and watch movies, weighted blankets, and vibrating and squishy sensory toys at your disposal.
We also encourage caregivers to bring anything from home that helps to ease tension and create a more relaxing appointment. If appropriate, we offer nitrous oxide and sedation dentistry. These options will be discussed with the doctor at your appointment.
What to Expect at Special Needs Orthodontist Visits
Our team is more than willing to take extra time when it comes to providing orthodontic care for individuals with special health care needs.
We understand that your child or young adult with sensory challenges needs continual support. Working with parents or caregivers on a consistent basis helps us determine the route of orthodontic appliances aimed for success.
Although treatment goals for patients with special healthcare needs may differ from traditional treatment, we strive to provide a similar experience for everyone.
Our pediatric specialists and orthodontic teams work together to formulate a patient-specific treatment plan. They continue to monitor oral hygiene and other preventive measures throughout the treatment process.
One of our top priorities is to help caregivers understand the depth of what orthodontic treatment entails. Orthodontic stages include:
- Early childhood care
- Teen (or Phase 2) orthodontics
- Enhanced oral hygiene needs
- Minimum two or more years in braces or Invisalign
- Broken appliance repair
- Gradual placement of orthodontic appliances to minimize stress at each visit
- A retentive phase where wearing a retainer is a daily need after we remove the braces
