Inclusive Dental Care for all needs

Inclusive Dental Care for all needs
in East Bay

We warmly welcome children with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, sensory processing differences, and a wide range of physical, developmental, and emotional needs.

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Specialized Care for Little Smiles

We have decades of experience treating children with special needs. Our team provides compassionate, patient-centered treatment tailored to accommodate your child's unique needs, keeping them calm and comfortable in the dental chair. Through behavior management, desensitization appointments, and a safe, supportive environment, we work with you to get your child the dental care they need while upholding the guidelines from the American Pediatric Board of Dentistry.

Why Families Trust Us:
  • Post-doctoral training in pediatric and neurodivergent care
  • Sensory-friendly environment
  • Wheelchair-accessible offices
  • Desensitization appointments and flexible scheduling
  • Option to call ahead for personalized accommodations
  • Kind, patient team that adapts to each child’s comfort level
Special Needs Pediatric Dentist

Inclusive Pediatric Dental Care

Individualized Approach

We take the time to understand each child's unique needs, adapting our techniques and environment to ensure a positive dental experience. Our team works closely with parents and caregivers to develop personalized care strategies.

Stress-Free Environment

Our office is designed to be a calming space for all children, with special considerations to those with sensory sensitivities.

Comprehensive Care

From preventive treatments to restorative procedures, we provide a full range of dental services for children with special needs. Our goal is to promote long-term oral health and establish positive associations with dental care.

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What to Expect

We strive to make each visit as smooth and comfortable as possible for both children and their caregivers. Here's what you can expect during your child's dental appointment:

Initial Visit

During this visit we help your child to become comfortable with our office environment. We introduce your child to our team, show them around the office, and let them explore dental tools in a non-threatening way. This helps reduce anxiety and build trust for future appointments.

Consultation

We conduct a thorough consultation with parents or caregivers. This allows us to understand your child's specific needs, medical history, and any accommodations required. We use this information to tailor our approach and prepare the team for your child's visit.

Gentle Examination

Our dentists use a patient, step-by-step approach during the examination. We explain each step in child-friendly language and use tell-show-do techniques to help your child feel more at ease. If needed, we can break the examination into shorter sessions to accommodate your child's comfort level.

Customized Treatment

Based on the examination results, we develop a personalized treatment plan. We discuss all options with parents or caregivers, considering factors such as the child's ability to cooperate, sensory sensitivities, and overall health. We may also provide a first cleaning depending on your child's comfort level. Our team is skilled in various behavior management techniques and can adapt treatments to suit your child's needs.

FAQs

Find answers to common questions parents have about special needs dentistry.

How do you help children with sensory sensitivities during dental visits?
Do you offer sedation for special needs patients?
How often should children with special needs visit the dentist?
Can parents or caregivers stay with the child during treatment?

Aloha is Amazing!

My son is autistic and we have had a great experience at Aloha. They have “sensory hours” where they adjust the office to be less stimulating/quieter for kids and build in extra time for kids. I really appreciated that experience. I was so nervous about my son going to the dentist but he walked away very happy without any issues which was amazing.

Carla

Aloha Pediatric Dentistry is the absolute best! Everyone in the office goes above and beyond for you!! We have worked with Dr. Ruehe and she is absolutely amazing with our 4 yr old, always so calm and gentle with her and taking time to make sure she feels comfortable. She helped navigate us around some complicated dental work that needed to be done and reassured us every step of the way. We feel so lucky to be working with her and this amazing office!

Clara

Just back from another great visit to Aloha. My kids genuinely look forward to going to the dentist, even when there is a treatment planned and not just a cleaning. All the staff are wonderful at putting them at their ease and inspiring interest in keeping their teeth healthy.

Rachel

The very best! I came to Dr. Katsura’s practice when I was a kid, and I love taking my kids to Aloha now. The care is top notch. My 3yo had the time of his life today. And my 8yo sailed through X-rays, cleaning, and a treatment without complaining. We are so grateful for your care.

Arianna

My kids have been coming here for 15 years. Their professionalism with a pediatric focus is unsurpassed. Watching the team work together between patients is seamless, efficient and always ensures great hygiene practices. It is a calm, peaceful and cheerful environment. Everyone adjusts their approach based on the age of the patient. They take the time to make everyone (patient and family) feel safe, heard and cared for. My only wish is that they took adult patients. I highly recommend Aloha Pediatric Dentistry.

Kali