Pediatric Dentistry Edmonton

City Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry - Alberta Dental Fee Guide
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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 them than at a very young age. Pediatric dentistry can help take care of your child’s oral hygiene 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.

 
Happy smiling toddler with baby teeth

Kids dentistry edmonton

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 behaviour 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.

Pediatric Dental SPecialists

If you’ve ever been anxious about visiting the dentist, just imagine how your child feels! Our specialists are trained to ensure they make your child feel safe and comfortable at every visit, ensuring the dentist doesn’t have to be a scary place in their minds.

Treatment under Laughing Gas Sedation

Does your child need laughing gas sedation?

Laughing gas 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 laughing gas 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 laughing gas, and the effects of the sedation are eliminated after a short period of breathing oxygen with no lingering effects.

Little girl in ponytail smiling and showing healthy baby teeth(2)

Treatment Under General Anesthesia

How does it work?

The general anesthesia is administered at a different facility (Accredited Non-Hospital Surgical Facility) with a Licensed Medical Anesthesiologist who monitors your child closely while the pediatric dentist completes the necessary treatment with an assisting dental assistant. In addition, a registered nurse will help with starting procedures and the recovery stage.

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.

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.

Happy baby smiling with left index finger in the mouth

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.

Request a Pediatric Appointment with a Specialist

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.

Smiling toddler with baby teeth holding a toothbrush
Little girl smiling while eating fresh carrot sticks

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.

What sets us apart?

Pediatric Dental Specialists
Child Friendly Office
Convenient Locations

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