Ask Dr. Talbot: "How do you treat patients with special needs?"

At Dr. Talbot’s orthodontic office, the diversity of patient needs requires a flexible yet consistent quality of patient care. Many of our patients would be considered “special needs" and do require appropriate personal care. Regardless of the patient’s limitations, our staff will always give the best of care to everyone without compromise. Sometimes we may take more time with a patient or schedule a number of shorter appointments to get the same result. This is determined by the patient’s specific physical and mental needs and/or limitations. The parents are a critical part in this process as they know their child best and can enlighten us as we begin treatment.

Communication and education is always first and foremost with the patients and parents in our practice. This gives patients a foundation for understanding how the braces do what they do and what the patient’s part is in their treatment. At every visit we explain what we will be doing that day at the beginning of the appointment and then also explain as we go step by step to make sure patients are comfortable with the process. We also talk about the goal of having straight teeth in the future to remind them why we are doing what we do. This part of treating patients may change slightly with a “special needs” individual only in the sense that it takes a little more explaining, some affirmation as they cooperate, and possibly a break or two throughout the process to allow them time to adjust and cope with the appointment.

When preparing for a visit, parents should always put a positive spin on the news that their child will be visiting the orthodontist. We take hi-tech pictures, tour the whole office to let them see what we do here, play the video games and contests just to make their visit as fun as possible. We love to make everyone who visits our office smile!

Please contact our Citrus Heights orthodontic office at (916) 965-8026 or our Roseville Orthodontic office at (916) 773-8338 to schedule your child's complimentary consultation!