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FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Pediatric Dentistry

While many of our patients are referred to us by their family dentist, it is not a requirement. We can schedule an appointment for your child without any referral.

Along with the Canadian and American Academies of Pediatric Dentistry, we recommend you schedule your child’s first dental visit before his/her first birthday or 6 months after the first tooth has erupted.

All dental specialists including pediatric dentists begin by completing dental school, then continue their education with several years of additional specialized training. During training in the field of pediatric dentistry, your doctor gained extensive knowledge and experience in treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric dentists enjoy working with children and bring to each patient our expertise in childhood development and behaviour.

The first visit is usually short and simple. In most cases, we focus on getting to know your child and giving you some basic information about dental care. The doctor will check your child’s teeth for placement and health, and will look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If necessary, we may do a bit of cleaning. We will also answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth as they develop, and provide you with materials containing helpful tips that you can refer to at home.

We generally recommend scheduling checkups every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits.

Be sure that your child brushes his teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, because flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.

Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.

Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect his teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.

Many children either use their thumb or pacifier for self-soothing. We recommend introducing your baby to pacifiers instead of allowing them to explore thumb-sucking for comfort. The habit of thumb and soother sucking, if prolonged, can cause changes to the teeth and jaw, resulting in crooked teeth and jaw development issues.

If your child is experiencing consistent tooth pain, this could be a warning for nerve damage or infection. It is best to contact us for an examination to determine the cause of pain. Administering children’s Ibuprofen can help manage the pain until your child is assessed.

Have a question?

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call our office at (587) 289-2200 or send us an email using the form on our Contact page.