What Are the Unique Oral Health Needs of Patients with Special Needs?

Special Needs Dental Care in Riverside: Unique Challenges and Solutions

It’s a sad reality that patients with special needs often receive less frequent dental care than others. In many cases, the difficulty lies in finding a Riverside-area dentist who is trained to work with individuals with cognitive, physical, or behavioral disabilities.

When patients do find a caring and qualified provider like In Motion Dentists, they often present unique oral health care needs. Here’s a look at some of the challenges our Riverside special needs patients face—and how we help.

Excessive Plaque and Tartar Build-Up

Many special needs patients have difficulty practicing daily oral hygiene routines. Some can brush and floss independently with modified instruments like electric toothbrushes or floss holders, while others rely entirely on a caregiver.

Because of this, plaque and tartar build-up can be more pronounced, requiring more thorough cleanings. During regular visits, our dentists carefully scrape and scale the teeth to help prevent the progression of gum disease.

Periodontal Disease at Various Stages

Gum disease is common among special needs patients, ranging from early gingivitis to advanced periodontal disease. Advanced stages can include:

• Gums peeling away from teeth
• Deep pockets forming between teeth
• Jawbone tissue loss
• Loose or shifting teeth
• Teeth that may need extraction

To treat these cases, we may recommend a deep cleaning procedure called scaling and root planing, performed under local anesthesia to ensure comfort. In some cases, sedation dentistry is used when necessary for the patient’s safety and ease, always in consultation with caregivers and attending physicians.

Sensitive Teeth and Uncommunicated Pain

Many patients with special needs cannot easily express discomfort. This may result in toothaches, gum inflammation, or early signs of decay going unnoticed. During every examination, our team carefully evaluates each tooth and the surrounding gums to identify issues that other providers might miss.

Mobile Special Needs Dental Care in Riverside

If you’re looking for a dentist in the Inland Empire who is specially trained to care for patients with special needs, In Motion Dentists offers compassionate, mobile dental care tailored to each patient’s unique needs.

Our goal is to provide thorough, comfortable, and respectful care so your loved one receives the oral health support they deserve—without the stress of leaving home.

Contact In Motion Dentists in Riverside today at (626) 594-0374 to learn more about our specialized dental care for special needs patients.