Call Us: 267-639-6250
By Mark Goldstein, DDS
Special Smiles, Ltd., a comprehensive dentistry and oral surgery practice designed and established exclusively for patients with special needs, has been improving dental outcomes for unique patients for more than 17 years in a way that is respectful, comforting and supportive for patients and caregivers.
Studies agree that poor dental health is common among patients with disabilities.
According to The Down Syndrome Research and Practice Journal, 90% to 96% adults with Down Syndrome have periodontal disease, which often presents when the patient is just a teenager. (source).
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) studied in a clinical trial reported by the U.S. National Library of Medicine face “significant challenges” participating in routine dental care. This has “contributed to a substantial unmet healthcare need for children with ASD, who are at increased risk for excessive plaque, caries, and oral infections” (source).
The community dental practice cannot be expected to provide comprehensive care for combative or highly complex patients.
Many dentists are able to provide oral health care for children and adults impacted by disabilities. However, as these patients age, their dental, medical, and behavioral needs often become more complex. These special patients may develop challenging behaviors that cannot be easily supported in the primary care dental setting. At a certain point, even the most competent and well-meaning dental practice cannot fully care for these complex patients who are unable to cooperate. This results in poor dental health, which directly affects the overall health of these patients.
Special Smiles is equipped to support patients with special needs and their families.
Special Smiles’ history of providing effective treatment by trusted professionals
Recognizing the unmet need for comprehensive dental care in the special needs community, we opened Special Smiles, Ltd in 2003. Our highly educated and trained team of general dentists, pediatric dentists, oral surgery specialists, hygienists, and oral health educators have served more than 30,000 children, teens, and adults with special needs.
Our outpatient office is housed in a brand new, state-of-the-art dental facility located in Philadelphia. Special Smiles, Ltd. is exclusively dedicated to providing optimal comprehensive dental care to all patients with special needs across the lifespan who require general anesthesia for their oral healthcare due to intellectual, physical, and/or developmental disabilities.
Special Smiles creates a place of welcome and comfort for the patient and the family.
We recognize that in seeking dental care, people with special needs, their families, and caretakers have concerns about what their dental care experience will be like. They seek a place of welcome and comfort that will provide an elevated treatment experience. Providing a positive experience is our core mission at Special Smiles.
A visit to Special Smiles begins with a private waiting room for each patient and the parent or caregiver. It is in this comfortable space that our professional staff performs a pre-treatment evaluation to determine the patient’s needs. At the next visit, we provide comprehensive dental treatment resulting in a much healthier individual. This process reduces the number of potentially stress-inducing office visits and procedures for the patients and caregivers, saving everyone time and anxiety. In our experience at Special Smiles, both dental and anesthesia fees are fully covered by insurance for nearly every patient.
Special Smiles actively supports ongoing communication and education within communities.
In addition to fulfilling our core mission, Special Smiles is dedicated to increasing public awareness of the role of good oral health and the resulting improved overall quality of life. We seek to educate parents and caretakers about improving and maintaining good daily oral hygiene. In line with those goals, our dentists welcome opportunities to write informative articles and speak to groups about oral health care for people with special needs.
Interested in learning more about Special Smiles?
To contact Special Smiles, call 267-639-6250 or email our practice administrator, Patricia Silverio at p.silverio@specialsmilesltd.com. For more information, visit https://specialsmilesltd.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After graduating Temple University School of Dentistry, Dr. Goldstein completed his residency in pediatric dentistry at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. He is a member of the Special Care Dentistry Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Dental Association. He has worked for more than 40 years providing comprehensive dental services to children and adults with special needs.
