“My son needed major dental work, and we had a hard time trying to find a dentist who would work on him. We were told by many dentists over the phone, flat-out- “We don’t work on special-needs children.”

We were finally referred to Dr. Deena Debaybo at Boston University Hospital. She was excellent with him, and very patient. She has had experience working with other children with autism, and did a wonderful job putting him at ease. He was put under general anesthesia at Belhoul Hospital, and after three hours, he had his teeth cleaned, sealed, and many of them filled. He was also fitted with a bridge to replace four teeth that had broken off. A few days later, one of the teeth came off and she saw us immediately and had the bridge repaired with no charge for the repairs or either of the two visits it took. We had a wonderful experience with her, and recommend her to anyone looking for a patient, experienced dentist for their child, autistic or otherwise.

Another piece of advice we want to share is for parents not to wait if your child needs to see a dentist. It can seem expensive, but the longer you wait, the more work it will take to repair the damage. It’s really hard trying to get your child to brush their teeth, especially if they have sensory issues. Our son can’t stand to have his teeth brushed and it’s a battle every time, but it is possible to have the teeth cleaned and sealed so that they don’t get cavities even if you aren’t able to brush them as often.”

-Waleed Jameel,
Dubai