Children with special needs
A dental home for children with special needs.
Sensory sensitivity, anxiety, and an unfamiliar room are real barriers, and the earlier we start, the easier every visit gets. Call 248-360-2555, tell us about your child, and we will plan the first visit together.
Start early, go slowly, and build a relationship
Most children with special needs first see a dentist after age 5. Dr. Farooq’s advice is to come by the first birthday, before anything is wrong, so the lights, the sounds, and the chair become familiar long before a cleaning is ever needed.
Dr. Naila Farooq is a board-certified pediatric dentist with more than 35 years in dentistry, and pediatric dentists train beyond dental school in guiding anxious children. She brings that training, and a great deal of patience, to every appointment.
Our scope is children with mild to moderate needs who can manage a dental chair with support and time. If your child needs hospital dentistry or general anesthesia, we will tell you on that first call and help you find the right place.
How a visit is adapted
Short visits, repeated until the room feels safe.
Each step is decided with you before your child walks in, so nothing in the room is new to either of you.
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Before the first visit
Ask for a play date: a short visit with nothing scheduled, just to meet the team and see the room. Complete the new patient forms online so the visit itself stays short.
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In the room
You stay with your child. The overhead light can go off, we choose gentler words for what we do, and we book extra time beyond a standard appointment so it doesn’t feel rushed.
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One visit might not be enough
A cleaning can be split across several short visits until your child is ready for a full one. A visit that ends with a child willing to come back is a success.
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Sedation, a last resort
Sedation is reserved for very extreme cases. With a relationship built over time, most children never need it, and it is rare for us to refer a child for sedation because of special needs alone.
Before you call
Care that fits your child.
What parents ask before the first visit.
When should my child first see a dentist?
By the first birthday. Children who are sensitive to touch, taste, or noise do best when the office becomes familiar early, through short visits that ask very little of them. It is never too late to start, but earlier is easier.
My child is autistic. Is this the right office?
The first call is how we find out together. Tell us what helps and what does not, and we plan a shorter, slower first visit around it. One parent wrote on Google: “My daughter has autism and Dr. Farooq is always so patient and understanding.”
What if my child cannot sit in the chair?
That is fine. The first visit becomes a look and a conversation, and treatment waits until your child is ready. Some children need several short visits before anything happens in the chair, and we plan for that from the start.
How do I prepare my child for the first visit?
Tell us what helps before you come: a favorite toy, a quiet room, a certain order of steps. Show your child photos of the office on our tour page, and plan the first visit as a short look rather than a full appointment.
Will you help with brushing at home?
Yes. Kids do not come with a handbook, so we go over the simple things: how to make brushing easier, and how to stay consistent and firm on the hard days. Parents get support here for the daily battles, not only the dental ones.
What parents of children with special needs say.
Google review“Since 2018, she has cared for my child with special needs and has earned the trust of our entire family. Her grace, attentiveness, and expertise make every visit a meaningful experience. I cannot speak highly enough of her.”
Google review“My pediatrician asked me to find a dentist who is specifically for children. She handles them all with care. My daughter has autism and she is always so patient and understanding. I’m so happy my children have such a great dentist now.”
Google review“Dr. Farooq and all the ladies do a wonderful job with my 3 children. My daughter had a tough time her first couple of visits, and they handled the visit with patience and reassured me that she was fine. I drive 30 minutes or so for the appointments and will continue to do so.”
Related care
Book a visit
Ready to schedule your child’s visit?
Call us during office hours or send a request online any time. Our team will reach out to book a time that works for your family.
New patients are always welcome.
Front desk, Monday to Thursday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
After-hours dental emergency? Call 248-345-6775.
Have an emergency?
If your child is struggling to breathe or swallow, or has a head injury, call 911 first. For a dental emergency that is not life-threatening, such as a knocked-out tooth, a broken tooth, dental swelling, or pain that will not settle, call our emergency line, day or night. We would rather tell you it can wait than have you sit on it over a weekend.