Information in this article was made available from a guide for parents and dental providers of children with special needs developed by the Oklahoma Dental Foundation in partnership with several funders.  The entire guide is available for download at: Oral Health Care For Children With Special Health Care Needs.

The following is an excerpt from page 6 of the guide.

Set a pre-appointment interview.

Providers can send copies of initial visit paperwork to the family member/caregiver to fill out before the first appointment. This will help gather all the needed information, but will also avoid completing this task in the waiting area with an anxious child. Fill out the “Checklist for Going to the Dentist” in this guide. Use this checklist, along with medical history records, to give the dentist the most complete picture of the child’s conditions and/or behavioral issues. Be sure and discuss any concerns that you have before the first appointment.