Into early adulthood
Special needs dentistry, planned with you
Longer visits, quiet times, visual schedules and a plan made with you, for kids who need dental care done differently.
What to know
Autism, ADHD, sensory differences, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, heart and medical conditions: every child is different, and so is every good visit. Before the first appointment we call you to learn what works at home and at school. Then we build the visit around your child, not the other way round.
Booking tip: choose "Special care planning" in the booking form. Owen, our patient care coordinator, calls you within one business day to plan the visit before anything is scheduled.
A good fit for
- Autistic kids and kids with sensory differences
- Children with developmental or physical disabilities
- Kids with heart, bleeding or other medical conditions
- Young adults who still feel at home with us
How we plan a special care visit
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A planning call
We ask about triggers, favorite things, communication, and what helped or didn't at other offices.
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A practice visit if helpful
Come in just to see the room, sit in the chair and leave on a good note. No exam needed.
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The quiet slot
First appointment of the day, a quieter room, lights dimmed, sounds lowered and extra time built in.
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Notes for next time
We write down what worked so every visit starts from there, not from scratch.
Our sensory menu
- Dimmed lights and kid sunglasses
- Noise-cancelling headphones or your child's own music
- Weighted blanket in the chair
- Visual schedule cards, and a social story we email ahead
- Wheelchair-accessible room with space to transfer, or treatment in the wheelchair when possible
What it usually costs
These are typical self-pay ranges at our office. With insurance or Kite Club, your share is usually lower. The exact number comes in writing before any treatment.
Insurance and Kite ClubSpecial needs dentistry
- Planning call
- No charge
- First practice visit
- No charge
- Exams, cleanings and treatment
- Same fees as any visit
Longer appointments don't cost more. We accept Health First Colorado and CHP+ and check your child's benefits, including any waiver coverage, before the visit.
Parent questions
My child has had bad dental visits before. Can we start over?
Yes. Tell us what happened on the planning call. A practice visit with no exam is often the best restart.
Can you see my child at 19 or 20?
For some patients with special health care needs, we keep seeing them into early adulthood while we help find the right adult dentist.
What if my child can't sit in the chair?
We can often do an exam in a beanbag, on a parent's lap or in a wheelchair. If treatment needs more support, we'll talk about options, including sedation.
More answers on our parent FAQ.
More care for your child
Start with a planning call
Choose special care planning in the booking form. Owen calls you within one business day to plan the visit around your child.