There are a lot of professional dentists in Florida that are experienced and committed to caring for patients with special needs. Special needs dentists receive 2-3 years of extra schooling which ensures they are perfectly equipped to care for patients. At Emergency Dentists USA we work to make finding the perfect dentist easier for you which is why we’ve researched the best special needs resources for you to help you begin your search.
Finding the perfect dentist can be easy with guidance, recommendations, and resources. You’ll be able to find a dentist you love and trust and someone who will make going to the dentist a breeze for your loved one with special needs.
“Everyone deserves the best dental experience possible. Teams that are trained to work with special needs patients have the training and extra dose of compassion. These resources are a great place to start.”
Florida Special Needs Resources
Florida has many great special needs resources that can help you find the right dentist.
The provides dental care information and has a list of Florida dentists who are a part of the association. They also have a list of resources for dentists who provide charitable care for those in need. focuses on providing resources specifically to communities in Southern Florida. One great tool they offer is helping you search for a dentist based on location and specialty. Search for a special needs dentist near you, . is based out of Miami but provides information and resources for the entire state of Florida. They provide therapy and care for children with special needs;is their directory for special needs dentists across Southern Florida.
Other places to reach out to in Florida include collegiate dental schools. These colleges are filled with dental students looking for hands-on experience. Dental school programs often offer care for patients with special needs at a fraction of the price.
National Resources
Another great way to help you find a dentist in Florida is by reaching out to national resources. The also allows you to search for a dentist by location and specialty. They are a great resource for all things dentistry, especially special needs dentistry. Visit their website to help prepare for your loved one’s appointment and research what to expect during their dental visits.
Another great national resource is the. Their special care dentist referral service can refer to you a dentist in or near your city. You can even specify which insurance you have to make sure the dentist you find fits your needs.
Two national special needs resources that provide a ton of useful information are and The . These organizations are committed to connecting families and individuals with resources to help them have fulfilling lives.
What to ask your potential dentist
As you begin your search for the perfect special needs dentist, it’s important that you ask them questions. This will ensure they are a good fit and will help you and your loved one feel confident at the appointment. Here are a few questions to get you started:
- Are you comfortable working with a patient with special needs?
- Do you have experience working with patients with additional needs?
- What special accommodations can be made?
This is an important question to ask as some dentists may not feel comfortable or equipped to accommodate a patient with additional needs. Pediatric dentists receive 2-3 extra years of schooling and are a good start when finding a dentist. They are able to use their schooling to better provide dental care for a patient with special needs.
When finding a dentist you will want someone who has previous experience. Be sure to listen for specific examples of a time when a potential dentist has worked with a patient with special needs. Overall they will be more comfortable in ensuring visit runs smoothly and that their patients are at ease throughout their checkup.
Your child or loved one has unique needs and may need to have special accommodations made during their appointment. When speaking with dentists, be sure to ask if they are willing and able to make any special accommodations that your loved one may need. This can be anything from having a specific toothpaste flavor, reducing waiting room times, or making sure that the dental chair stays in the same position throughout the visit.
Preparing for the dental visit
Once you have chosen a dentist, you will want to take some steps to prepare for the visit.
Preparing ahead of time is important because it can help decrease feelings of anxiety. There are a number of things you can do before an appointment to prepare and work through any nerves.
- Visualizing what happens at the dentist
- Visit the dentist early
Visuals are a great way to see what happens at the dentist and make connections. This can be done with stories or videos and gives the patient a way to see what will be happening at their visit.
Visiting the dentist before the scheduled appointment can be beneficial because it allows patients to familiarize themselves with the environment such as seeing the lights and equipment, and hearing the sounds. You and your loved one can meet the office and staff members and go over any accommodations that may need to be made.
Sedation Dentistry
Sometimes patients with special needs can benefit from being sedated with general anesthesia during a dental appointment. Those who are extremely apprehensive or uncooperative may need sedation during their appointments in order to receive the care they need. Sedation dentistry, or “sleep dentistry”, helps to keep the patient calm and in a relaxed state. This type of sedation is not the same as being put under.
There are a few different types of sedation that may be available at your dentist. They include:
- Inhaled minimal sedation: Breathing in nitrous oxide combined with oxygen to help relax. Your dentist is in complete control of sedation that is given.
- Oral sedation:
- IV moderate sedation:
- Deep sedation & general anesthesia:
Can range from minimal to moderate. This type of sedation is most commonly associated with sedation dentistry. The pill makes will make the patient drowsy while a more moderate dose may make the patient fall asleep.
A sedation drug is given through a vein and works more quickly. Your dentist will be able to continually adjust the sedation levels.
Medication is given that will make the patient nearly or totally unconscious. While under general anesthesia you cannot easily be awakened until the effects of the medication wear off or are reversed.
If the patient suffers from any other medical conditions be sure to consult with your dentist before choosing a sedation method. You don’t want any medication from the sedation to interfere with the medical condition.
Special Needs Dentist by Region
| | | | |
Finding a special needs dentist can be hard and it can be even more intimidating reaching out to them for the first time. That’s why our team has gone through as many dental offices as we could to find practices that specifically mentioned working with patients with special needs. We’ve provided you with all the information you will need when scheduling an appointment and hope you find this list useful.
If you think there is a practice that should be included in our list, we encourage you to reach out to us!
Central Florida
Dental Office: Florida Special Needs Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (352) 242-0149
Hours:
Dental Office: Douglas T. Andrews, D.M.D.
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 847-7997
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Lake Mary Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 942-0225
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Fri 9 am – 1 pm
Dental Office: Shirin Yasrebi DDS Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (863) 667-9000
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Dentistry for Children
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (863) 644-2408
Hours: Mon – Thurs 7:30 am – 5 pm; Fri 7:30 am – 3 pm
Dental Office: Paul Saari, DDS
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (863) 644-7513
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Brevard Pediatric Dental Associates
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (321) 453-2450
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 4 pm; Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Pediatric Dental Group
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 737-7767
Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm; Thurs 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Dental Office: Center for Dental Anesthesia
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 894-4921
Hours: Mon 10 am – 5 pm; Tues – Thurs 7 am – 2 pm; Fri 7 am – 11 pm
Dental Office: Doctor Phillips Modern Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 205-0246
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 7 pm; Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Dentistry For Children
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (407) 977-9990
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Susan Glenn Cadell DDS
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (352) 343-2821
Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 5 pm
Northeast Florida
Dental Office: Daytona Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (386) 304-2677
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: River City Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (386) 668-2181
Hours: Mon, Wed 9 am – 6 pm; Tues, Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Weaver & Stratton Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 264-5437
Hours: Mon – Thurs 7:30 am – 5:30 pm; Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Dr. Gabriel A. Nossa D.M.D.
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (352) 332-8133
Hours: Mon, Thurs 8:30 am – 5 pm; Tues 7:30 am – 4:30 pm; Wed 8 am – 1 pm; Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Kids First Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 423-1377
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Fri 8 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Orthodontics and Dentistry for Kids
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 645-9555
Hours: Mon – Wed 7:30 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: David & Associates
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 268-0606
Hours: Mon – Thurs 9 am – 7 pm; Fri 9 am – 6 pm; Sat 9 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Myers Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 505-2010
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Barnes, McDonnell & Parsons Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (386) 676-7763
Hours: Mon – Fri 7:20 am – 5:30 pm
Dental Office: Dr. Gregory E. Oxford, DDS
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (904) 810-2345
Hours:
Northwest Florida
Dental Office: Gulf Breeze Family Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 934-8222
Hours: Mon, Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Tues, Wed 7 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Barrineau DDS PA Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 934-2720
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Ben Saunders DMD
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 526-7748
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Marcantonio Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 835-5437
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Panhandle Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 481-1969
Hours: Mon 7:30 am – 8:30 pm
Dental Office: Jeffrey Dental
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (850) 678-4151
Hours: Mon, Wed 6:30 am – 5 pm; Tues, Thurs 6:30 am – 3:30 pm
Southeast Florida
Dental Office: Maye Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (561) 395-5081
Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Dental Office: A&B Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (954) 866-4223
Hours: Mon, Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Tues, Wed 9 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Dr. Brian Snyder, DDS
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (954) 753-4101
Hours: Mon – Thurs 9 am – 5 pm; Fri 9 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Grosman Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (954) 236-3434
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat 9 am – 5 pm; Wed 10 am – 7 pm
Dental Office: Children Dental Care
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (561) 279-4080
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 9 am – 5 pm; Tues 9 am – 6 pm
Dental Office: Dr. John D. Karpinski PA
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (772) 252-4299
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8:30 am – 5 pm; Tues 8:30 am – 1 pm
Dental Office: Crown Dentistry of the Palm Beaches
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (561) 964-2002
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Advanced Dental Care of South Florida
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (561) 694-9000
Hours:
Dental Office: Dental Arts of Atlantis
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (561) 965-6003
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm; Fri – Sat 8:30 am – 1 pm
Dental Office: Essen Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (772) 210-7610
Hours: Mon – Thurs 9 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Flamingo Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (954) 435-5900
Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri 8:30 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Pediatric Dental Land
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (954) 414-8018
Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 am – 5:30 pm
Dental Office: Dermody Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (772) 879-1879
Hours: Mon 7:30 am – 12 pm; Tues 7:30 am – 5 pm; Wed – Fri 7:30 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Anchor Dental
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (772) 283-0902
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Stuart Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (772) 600-5130
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Southern
Dental Office: AC Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (305) 825-9899
Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 5:30 pm
Dental Office: Feel Good Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (305) 667-6747
Hours: Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri 10 am – 6 pm; Thurs 11 am – 6 pm
Dental Office: Pediatric Dental Associates
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (786) 230-1990
Hours: Mon 12 pm – 7 pm; Tues 9 am – 6 pm; Wed 9:30 am – 6:30 pm; Thurs 8:30 am – 6 pm; Fri 9 am – 5 pm; Sat 9 am – 12 pm
Dental Office: Dental Leaders
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (305) 442-1177
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 7:30 am – 6 pm; Wed 9 am – 5 pm; Sat 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Dr. Sharp Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (305) 857-0990
Hours: Mon – Fri 9 am – 8 pm; Sat 9 am – 4 pm
Suncoast
Dental Office: Treehouse Children’s Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (239) 431-9013
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30 am – 3 pm; Tues, Thurs 10:30 am – 6 pm
Dental Office: Total Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (941) 475-3962
Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs 8:30 am – 5 pm; Wed 8:30 am – 4 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Dental Office: Suncoast Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (813) 235-4960
Hours: Tues – Fri 7:30 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Solar Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (727) 584-7163
Hours:
Dental Office: Fantasea Pediatric Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (239) 449-0262
Hours: Tues – Thurs 9 am – 5 pm; Fri 9 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: James C. Lewis, DMD
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (727) 372-7887
Hours: Mon – Thurs 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Smiles By Zee
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (813) 448-6555
Hours: Mon, Tues 9:30 am – 5:30 pm; Wed 11 am – 7 pm; Fri 8:30 am – 4 pm
Dental Office: Smileworks Kids Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (941) 953-2111
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 5 pm
Dental Office: Siesta Village Dentistry
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (941) 240-1740
Hours: Mon – Thurs 9 am – 5 pm; Fri 9 am – 3 pm
Dental Office: Tampa Bay Jaw and Facial Surgery
Resource:
Address:
Phone Number: 1 (813) 264-2286
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 am – 4:30 pm