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At Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry, we know that as many as one in 88 children today have some form of autism, a complex brain disorder that affects a child's ability to communicate or form relationships, and makes a child appear distant, aloof, or detached from other people or surroundings. Autism varies widely in symptoms and severity, and some people have coexisting conditions such as intellectual disability or even epilepsy.

That is why Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team are specially trained to provide dental care to the entire special needs community, including autistic children. We know that a visit to the dentist with an autistic child can be difficult. In addition to the common fears associated with strangers, there are also unfamiliar sounds, sensations, bright lights, and tastes with which your child may not be comfortable. We work with parents to make sure visiting the dentist is not so traumatic for our autistic patients.

Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team also know that patients with autism may be more interested in equipment and instruments than in us. We show our patients every piece of equipment we are going to use in a way that they can understand. We also allow a patient to sit in a parent's lap in the open bay if he or she is not feeling at ease. We want your child to enjoy getting to know us and to be comfortable while under our care.

A pleasant, comfortable visit at our Simsbury, CT office builds trust and helps put your child at ease for future appointments. Before a visit, we ask parents or guardians to bring their child's favorite toy, comfort item, music, or other coping device their child requires. We have a caring and compassionate team and know how to help autistic children acclimate themselves to a dental environment. We may not get everything done at the first visit, but we are able to schedule several appointments so that your child can get used to our office, the dentist, instruments, and our staff.

Children, especially those afflicted with autism, are not born with a fear of the dentist, but they can fear the unknown. Our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry genuinely cares for our patients beyond their teeth, and are more than happy to discuss any concerns you may have, as well as answer questions about your child's ongoing dental treatment. Please give us a call to learn more or schedule an appointment with Dr. Maryam Azadpur.

There are only 2 weeks left until the start of Summer and our office is excited to be able to get back outside and enjoy the sunshine!

Kelly, one of our amazing front desk girls, plays softball. She is a terrific catcher, although it is getting hard on the knees! Other staff in our office enjoy swimming, biking, hiking, kayaking, and of course playing softball.

Many of us enjoy spending time in parks just enjoying nature. While there are a few different parks near us we all have our favorites. Shultz Park in Simsbury is a lovely arboretum filled with beautiful trees. Our families love visiting the dog parks in town. Lake Garda offers beautiful sunsets. Susan takes the best pictures there!

Shari, our Marketing Director, is the props master for Simsbury Summer Theatre and has worked on several productions over the years. Many of the youth members are patients here and we are always so proud to see them and their hard work each August.

Other than enjoying local areas during the summer, a lot of us travel during this time as well. Some of the areas that are planned include Lancaster, PA, Disney,  Maine, and so many more.

We also love to enjoy fresh produce during this time of year. We love fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and more. Some of us grow our own at home and some frequent the local farmers' markets each weekend. And of course, watermelon is a summer fan favorite!

Many of our diets include salads of all kinds. With fresh fruit we make salads and with fresh vegetables we make salads too. If you are looking for a yummy and filling salad idea, we highly recommend this one:

1. Greens (your favorite)
2. Strawberries
3. Blueberries
4. Goat Cheese
5. Candied Pecans
6. Grilled Chicken (optional)
7. Poppyseed Dressing

Other than enjoying our sun and warm weather, we will also be celebrating with all of our dads later this month as we wish them a very happy Father's Day! We love seeing them in the office. Hope your special day is filled with fun and family.

The dog days of summer are upon us, and with the temperatures soaring, our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry wants you to be extra careful about sun safety when you’re out and about. Check out this incredibly helpful article on the Ten Summer Safety Tips for Kids, courtesy of Discovery.

Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our team also encourage you to always have a bottle of water handy when heading out into the sun.

We hope you’re having a great summer! Let us know what you're up to below or on our Facebook page!

Memorial Day is not only a federal holiday in the United States, but it is a day of observance and remembrance of those who died in service. Originally known as Decoration Day, this solemn day has been marked on calendars since the end of the American Civil War as a day to commemorate both the Confederate and Union soldiers who fought and died in the war.

Marking the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers, wreaths, or other tokens has been practiced throughout history, but it wasn't until the mark of the end of the Civil War that a special day was decided upon as the one to spend in remembrance. By 1890, every state in the country was observing Decoration Day. It wasn't until 1967 when the name formally changed from Decoration Day to Memorial Day, in order to encompass all fallen American soldiers in all wars and conflicts. In June of 1968, Congress moved the official date of Memorial Day to the last Monday in May in order to create a three day weekend.

Today, while there is certainly an air of remembrance on Memorial Day, it has become more a day of spending time with family, friends, and other loved ones. This day is also heralded as the start of summer, with many schools finishing for the year around this time. Our team at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry remembers it as a day to take solace and remembered those lost.

Traditional observances of Memorial Day are still held, and they often involve raising the American Flag then lowering it to a half-staff position until noon, and then raising it once again to its full height afterwards. The flag is lowered to remember those who've lost their lives while in service to their country, and then it is raised to signify our willingness to not let their sacrifice be in vain.

From community parades in the Simsbury, CT area, backyard cook-outs, and fireworks to formal ceremonies, Memorial Day is commemorated in many different ways. No matter how you choose to spend this day, take a moment to remember those who've lost their lives in an effort to preserve our freedom.