Infant Exams
Did you know your child’s first visit to a dentist should take place by the time they are one years old? Honestly, this visit may be among the most important things you do in your child’s early development. During your first appointment, we will give you advice on how to properly care for your child’s early teeth and talk about good habits and best practices. We’ll also take a careful and caring look to make sure everything in the mouth is developing naturally.
Regular Checkups
We recommend you bring your child in for a regular checkup and cleaning every 3-6 months. This allows us to professionally clean their teeth and remove any stubborn buildup, and polish and fluoride their teeth to keep them in proper dental health. We’ll also make sure their teeth, gums and mouth continue to look healthy, and offer friendly advice on all your homecare needs.
Teeth Sealants
We’re here to make sure your child’s teeth and smile are as healthy (and shiny!) as possible. That’s why we recommend applying a simple, non-invasive sealant to help prevent cavities from forming in the intricate grooves of your child’s molars. This protective coating guards against plaque and bacteria formation in these hard-to-reach places.
Fillings & Crowns
Don’t worry, Mom & Dad – even with the best brushing routines and dental care at home, cavities are unfortunately still a fact of life. For small cavities, we exclusively use white fillings so the dental work blends right in. If the cavity is too large for a simple filling, a crown may be the best solution. Depending on the nature of the cavity, you may have the option of selecting a silver or white crown for your child.
SDF Treatment
We endorse the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) to stop the progress of dental decay – including in special cases as an alternative to fillings or crowns. SDF can also be used to treat teeth sensitivity. This is a non-invasive procedure, involving the SDF being simply brushed or flossed onto the cavity area. The use of SDF in treating a cavity is made on a case-by-case basis. Your pediatric dentist will assess whether SDF may be effective in treating your child’s tooth decay.
Tongue/Lip Tie Laser Release
A tongue and lip tie release is often recommended to provide relief from issues with breastfeeding. Other reasons include to promote improved speech, improved teeth-cleaning ability, decreased risk of developing a cavity and to relieve muscle tension. This laser method only takes a couple minutes, is clean (no bleeding) and effectively disinfects the wound during treatment.
Laughing Gas (Nitrous Oxide)
Proven time and again to be completely harmless when used with children, laughing gas is an amazingly effective way to make kids feel more comfortable with their dental procedure. They can choose from fun scents like strawberry, bubblegum or mint, which they’ll inhale through a “piggy nose”, and once the gas is turned off the nitrous oxide leaves their body almost immediately. Your child will remain awake throughout the procedure, and be back to their normal selves again by the time they leave our operatory.
Oral Sedation
Depending on your child’s anxiety level, they may require greater sedation than laughing gas alone. If this is the case, we'll give your child a special drink thirty minutes before treatment, to help them feel relaxed while still enabling them to remain awake throughout the procedure.
General Anesthesia
Depending on the procedure or your child’s anxiety level, a general anesthetic may be the best option. As a specialist clinic, we have both medical and dental anesthesiologists on-site to administer and monitor your child’s health throughout the procedure. The anesthetic will typically wear off by the evening and by the following day your child will be ready to go back to school (or enjoy their favourite weekend activities) like normal.
