Pediatric Dental Services in Medicine Hat
At Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry, we are fully equipped to provide dental care for children. Our team is trained to be child-friendly and to accommodate the needs of our younger patients to keep them comfortable during their visit.
Routine Dental Care for Children (Infants to 21 years)
We provide routine dental care for children ages 6 months to 21 years old. Our dental experts know how to care for the newest of smiles and will have them shining for years. Our kind and gentle pediatric dental experts will make everyone feel relaxed and at home. We know that the more fun your child has at the dentist from the very beginning, the more likely they are to want to keep coming back. Your child will get a great start on the road to lifetime oral health with our pediatric dentists in Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry.
Routine Dental Care for Children (Infants to 21 years)
We provide routine dental care for children ages 6 months to 21 years old. Our dental experts know how to care for the newest of smiles and will have them shining for years. Our kind and gentle pediatric dental experts will make everyone feel relaxed and at home. We know that the more fun your child has at the dentist from the very beginning, the more likely they are to want to keep coming back. Your child will get a great start on the road to lifetime oral health with our pediatric dentists in Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry.
Digital x-rays
At Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry, we provide modern imaging technology with digital x-rays. We’re a Medicine Hat dental speciality clinic that puts safety first by examining your child’s teeth using modern digital radiographic equipment that lessens radiation exposure over traditional x-ray machines.
Digital x-rays
At Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry, we provide modern imaging technology with digital x-rays. We’re a Medicine Hat dental speciality clinic that puts safety first by examining your child’s teeth using modern digital radiographic equipment that lessens radiation exposure over traditional x-ray machines.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
At Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry, we know that there are lots of different children in Medicine Hat that have lots of different temperaments and personalities. Sometimes, your child needs a little more help to relax at the dentist. Don’t worry. We offer in-office sedation to help everyone have a great visit to the dentist.
Nitrous Oxide Sedation
At Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry, we know that there are lots of different children in Medicine Hat that have lots of different temperaments and personalities. Sometimes, your child needs a little more help to relax at the dentist. Don’t worry. We offer in-office sedation to help everyone have a great visit to the dentist.
In-Office General Anesthesia
Not all visits turn out to be routine visits to the dentist. Children have the same teeth problems as adults and there’s a chance your child may be in need of treatment that must be performed with the help of general anesthesia. If so, don’t worry. You won’t have to leave your Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry family of dental specialists. Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry offers general anesthesia for your child when it is needed.
In-Office General Anesthesia
Not all visits turn out to be routine visits to the dentist. Children have the same teeth problems as adults and there’s a chance your child may be in need of treatment that must be performed with the help of general anesthesia. If so, don’t worry. You won’t have to leave your Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry family of dental specialists. Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry offers general anesthesia for your child when it is needed.
White Crowns Available
Sometimes your child’s teeth need a little more help to grow straight and tall. We offer white crowns as a treatment option for those teeth that need a little more help. These can help your child’s teeth regain the strength, shape, and size they need for the smile you know and love.
White Crowns Available
Sometimes your child’s teeth need a little more help to grow straight and tall. We offer white crowns as a treatment option for those teeth that need a little more help. These can help your child’s teeth regain the strength, shape, and size they need for the smile you know and love.
Care for Children with Special Needs
Every child is different, some need special care and attention for their visits to the dentist. We offer comprehensive services for children with special needs to make sure they are set up for success whenever they visit us at Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry. As a pediatric dentist that cares, we want to ensure that every child who visits us is set up for a lifetime of great oral health.
Care for Children with Special Needs
Every child is different, some need special care and attention for their visits to the dentist. We offer comprehensive services for children with special needs to make sure they are set up for success whenever they visit us at Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry. As a pediatric dentist that cares, we want to ensure that every child who visits us is set up for a lifetime of great oral health.
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Dental Emergencies
We are available to help when your child is experiencing a dental emergency. We will book your child in with our pediatric dentist as soon as possible.
Looking for a pediatric dentist in your area?
Book your child’s dental appointment with one of our pediatric dentists today. Our team of dental professionals is trained to provide treatments to kids of all ages. No referral is necessary to book an appointment.
WHY IS PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY IMPORTANT?
When it comes to the health of your child’s teeth and gums, there’s no better time to start taking care of it than at a very young age. Pediatric dentistry helps that your child’s oral hygiene is being taken care of and well maintained early on, minimizing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and other oral diseases.
IT INTRODUCES CHILDREN TO PROPER ORAL HYGIENE AT A YOUNG AGE
Dental care should be incorporated into your child’s life as early and as efficiently as possible. By the time your child turns 1-2 years of age, you should be scheduling an appointment with a pediatric dentist so they can be evaluated, and have any plaque or build up removed from their teeth by a professional. This is important as buildup can lead to unhealthy bacteria in the mouth, which can eventually lead to tooth decay if left for too long.
As they get older, it’s important to continue to guide them through proper oral hygiene practices at home. If they’re too young to brush and floss their own teeth, ensure you’re carefully brushing their teeth for them with a child sized toothbrush. When flossing their teeth, make sure you’re being gentle without applying too much pressure. It’s important that you help your child brush until they’re old enough to do so properly, and that you encourage them to watch your technique and the entire process so they know how to do it themselves.
When they become old enough, encourage them to brush their twice per day, for at least two minutes. It’s important to supervise them for the first little while to ensure they’re brushing frequently enough, and properly. While they’re still young, make sure to examine their mouth to check that they aren’t missing any spots, and they’re doing a good job.
IT HELPS TO MINIMIZE ORAL DISEASE AND COMPLICATIONS LATER IN LIFE
The earlier you start taking care of your child’s oral health, the more likely it is that they’ll have great dental hygiene with minimal complications. Preventative dentistry is key to maintain your child’s long term oral health, prevent oral disease, tooth decay, and any other dental irregularities. This means it’s important to keep up with their hygiene appointments, and ensure that they’re seeing their pediatric dentist at least every six months.
Your child’s first dental visit
It’s recommended that your child see a dentist when their first tooth comes in, which usually happens before the age of one. Cavities are the most common infectious disease in Canadian children, and can progress very quickly in baby teeth.
Our pediatric specialists use child-friendly language and behavior management skills within a clinic that’s designed to make children feel at ease. We understand that dental visits for your child can be nerve-wracking and anxiety inducing, and do our best to make them feel as comfortable and at ease as possible during their visit.
HOW TO TALK TO YOUR CHILD ABOUT DENTISTRY
When discussing dental visits with your child, it’s important to keep a positive and upbeat attitude. The dentist can be very intimidating to children, so when preparing your child for their visit, try not to give too many details that could scare or upset them. Try to keep it simple and positive, and maybe even make going to the dentist sound fun! We have lots of toys and prizes to reward them for a job well done after the fact.
PREVENTATIVE PEDIATRIC CARE
Preventative dental care is important for all ages, but is especially important for children. Visiting the dentist from a very young age encourages your child to be mindful of their oral health, to develop healthy and productive habits, and hopefully allows them to avoid cavities and extensive dental treatment later in life.
NITROUS OXIDE SEDATION
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED NITROUS OXIDE SEDATION?
Commonly known as “laughing gas,” this is a mild and safe form of sedation used for kids of all ages. It’s beneficial for children who have mild dental anxiety. Using nitrous oxide sedation can help your child experience a sense of well-being and relaxation during the dental visit, so that he or she will respond more positively.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Your child remains fully awake while breathing the nitrous oxide, and the effects of the sedation are eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen with no lingering effects.
in-office GENERAL ANESTHESIA
HOW DOES IT WORK?
General anesthesia is administered in-office with a Licensed Medical Anesthesiologist who monitors your child closely while the pediatric dentist completes the necessary treatment with an assisting dental assistant.
DOES YOUR CHILD NEED GENERAL ANESTHESIA?
General anesthesia is for children with severe dental fear and anxiety who cannot cope with multiple dental appointments. It’s also for very young children who don’t understand how to cooperate in the dental chair. This will require consultation with your physician.
Pediatiric Dental Specialists
Child-Friendly Environment
No Referral Needed
PACIFIER AND THUMB SUCKING
BREAKING THE HABIT
It’s completely normal for babies and very young children to suck on their thumbs, fingers, toys, or blankets. If, however, this habit continues past the age of three, it can affect the way the teeth and jaws are growing. It could even lead to orthodontic issues down the road, as thumb-sucking habits often turn into open bites that need to be corrected with braces.
Most children will be able to stop the habit on their own with consistent reminders from parents and the pediatric dentist. In some cases, however, these reminders are not enough and we have to help your child with an appliance.
ORAL HYGIENE FOR CHILDREN
BRUSH TWICE A DAY
Remove bacteria and buildup from the teeth by brushing them at least twice per day. If they’re old enough to brush on their own, make sure you supervise and double-check that they’re getting all the right spots. Their teeth should be brushed for at least two minutes.
USE A FLUORIDATED TOOTHPASTE AND MOUTHWASH
For children under three years old, use a smear roughly the size of a grain of rice, and make sure they don’t swallow any of it. For children that are older than three, you can use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. Consider using a non-alcoholic fluoridated mouthwash to help keep bacteria levels at a minimum.
FLOSS EVERY DAY
Floss in between any teeth that are touching once per day. Sometimes your toothbrush glosses over certain spots, and floss helps to clear out anything you may have missed. When the teeth are touching, cavities can easily form if not cleaned well enough or regularly.
PREVENTION OF CAVITIES FOR KIDS
Regularly brushing and flossing helps to prevent cavities, but what else can be done? Here are some additional prevention tips to protect your child’s oral health:
SEALANTS
A sealant is a type of plastic material that a dentist can glue to the tooth to fill any deep grooves or pits that have formed on the biting surfaces of the teeth. This is done because these deep grooves often can’t be properly cleaned with a toothbrush, and if left unchecked, can trap food and other particles to buildup and lead to tooth decay. The placement of sealants over these areas allows you and your child to brush away the plaque and prevent cavity causing bacteria from entering the tooth. This procedure can be completed in one visit, and no freezing is required.
FLUORIDE
Fluoride inhibits the leeching of minerals from the teeth, and can help to strengthen the areas of the teeth that have already been affected by loss of mineral. Our pediatric dentist will recommend fluoride treatments for your child based on the results of their exam. Children who are at higher risk of developing cavities benefit the most from these professional fluoride applications.
MI PASTE
MI paste can be used as an alternative to fluoride treatments to help strengthen your child’s teeth. This topical cream contains phosphate and calcium, two key minerals that help to protect your teeth from cavities. Our pediatric dentists will show you how to apply the MI paste to your child’s teeth so you can continue to use it at home as needed. Unlike fluoride treatments, MI paste needs to be applied a little more frequently to ensure it’s effective.
DIET AND NUTRITION
Your child’s diet plays a key role in the state of their oral health. Follow these tips to ensure your child makes tooth-friendly food choices.
LIMIT SUGARY FOODS AND DRINK
Limit their intake of sugary foods and drinks, sticky foods, and foods high in excess carbohydrates. Most people know that delicacies such as candies, soda and cake are bad for our teeth, but be careful! There are many foods that, though unlisted here, can be high in starches and sugars and wreak havoc on your oral health all the same. Even things such as dried fruit, yogurt, bagels, and crackers can jeopardize teeth and gum health if consumed in excessive amounts.
STICK WITH FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
When it comes to snack time, you should keep the list of available options short and sweet. Try to stick to fresh fruits, vegetables, firm cheeses, and nuts when snacking in between meals. These foods are lower in sugars and carbs, posing less of a threat to your teeth.
DRINK ONLY WATER
Though it may be tempting for them to grab a soda in between meals, water is the best thing for their oral and overall health. Soda isn’t necessarily the cause of cavities, but if left on the teeth too long, can easily cause tooth decay. Water is not only good because it doesn’t cause cavities, but because it also works to rinse away food and bacteria, and neutralizes any acids in the mouth.
Looking for a dental home for your child?
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.
Why Choose Medicine Hat Pediatric Dentistry?
Child-Friendly Office
We strive to make each patient comfortable in our fun and interactive practice. Our child-friendly clinic is equipped with gaming stations, televisions, and a baby play area.
CONVENIENT LOCATION
Our clinic is conveniently located in the South of Medicine Hat. We offer free parking and the clinic is also accessible by public transit.
DIRECT BILLING OF INSURANCE
Our clinic offers direct billing for pediatric dental treatments. Our staff is happy to help you with your insurance claims and paperwork.
CUSTOMIZED TREATMENT
Our pediatric dentists are happy to answer all your questions about your child’s oral health and dental treatment.
DEDICATED SPECIALISTS
Our pediatric dentists are committed to providing you and your child with specialized care to make each visit a comfortable one.
NO REFERRAL NECESSARY
We don’t require a doctor referral to see one of our pediatric dentists. You may request an appointment by calling our office or filling out a form online.