STORY: SPECIAL NEEDS
SCRIPT #585 SHOOT: 10/13/04
AIRDATE: Monday, Dec. 13, 2004
Daybreak and Midday
DHC Master #20 Timecode: 24:28 Dental care can be more challenging
for children who have physical
or mental disabilities. These special needs
patients often require extra assistance
when they visit the dentist. Dr. Linda
Niessen looks at one clinic where
all the patients have special health problems.
SOVT: 1:43 Here is today's Dental Health Check.
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LUKE WALKING INTO CLINIC (VOICE-OVER)
SUPER: Dallas :02-07 At age 16, Luke Fulton requires special
attention when he has his teeth cleaned.
Luke has Down's Syndrome. He and
his parents travel more than an hour to
Children's Medical Center Dental Clinic
that only treats children with special needs.
SUPER: Don Fulton :16-21 ("Well, its been the only place we've been
Luke's Father able to get complete dental treatment for
Luke."
SUPER: Michelle Fulton :24-29 ("It's just been awesome. I drive an hour
Luke's Mother and twenty minutes to get here. But I would
drive three hours to get here.")
LUKE GETTING SEDATED The clinic staff sedate Luke to reduce
the anxiety he feels.
SUPER: Dr. Derek Zurn :38-43 ("Oral sedation is something that will take
Dentist the edge off. It's not something that will
put the child to sleep. The medications that
we use are safe. This is prescribed under the
guidelines suggested by the American
Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and here
at Children's Medical Center.")
MORE WITH LUKE The patients are monitored throughout the procedure.
MORE OF CLINIC The clinic treats children who have
developmental or physical disabilities such as Down's Syndrome, Autism, cancer
patients, transplant patients, or any
child with a craniofacial defect such
as cleft lip or palate.
DR. ZURN ("Usually, we like to see them first at
age six months or the latest, one year old
and that's very important with these
special needs children.")
LUKE AND PARENTS For Luke and his parents, the clinic
plays a major role in their son's oral
as well as overall good health.
MICHELLE FULTON ("There's just nothing more important than
our teeth. And especially with our children.
They have more problems.")
ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)
SUPER: Dr. Linda Niessen "1:24-1:28 Early and frequent visits to a dentist are
Baylor College of Dentistry are very important for children with
special needs. Contact the Children's
ADD GRAPHIC: Medical Center Dental Clinic at
Children's Medical Center 214-456-8800.
Dental Clinic Children
with special healthcare needs
214-456-8800 will
qualify for dental care. For Baylor
Special Needs Children Only College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System,
I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.