Pickering Kids Dentist
Gentle & Expert Dental Care For Your Children
Your children are the most important people in your life. At the Smile Centre, we understand that children often require a more gentle approach. It is our priority to provide excellent preventive care for your children to help them to keep their teeth for life. We take the time to provide education and hygiene tips and instructions for parents and children to ensure that you are doing everything you can to keep your child healthy and pain-free. Early intervention and education helps to prevent tooth decay, but also develop healthy oral hygiene habits that last a lifetime. At the Smile Centre, we provide compassionate care to children of all ages, from toddlers to teens.
When should my child have their first dental appointment?
The first dental appointment can be as soon as the first tooth erupts, or even before. An infant dental exam can often show early signs of concerns with tooth and jaw development and oral health. If you have any questions or concerns about caring for your child’s oral health, we are always here to listen and offer guidance.
Most often, we try to bring children into the dental office as early as possible to familiarize them with the environment. This also ensures a positive first impression. Accidents happen, and when a child’s first experience at the dentist is for an emergency appointment, it can be overwhelming. It is so much better to allow them to have a relationship with their dentist/dental hygiene provider before any dental treatment is completed.
What will happen at my child’s first visit to the Smile Centre?
At the first dental appointment, often referred to as a “happy visit”, our goal is to introduce ourselves and ensure that the child is comfortable. Our dentists and hygienists understand the importance of a good first impression. We only do as much as the child feels comfortable with on that day. Often this includes a “ride” in the chair (alone or on mom or dad’s lap), and a “show and tell” of some of the tools we use in our office. Children are usually impressed with the chair and they love the tools that spray or suction water and blow air. If your child is comfortable with everything, the dentist or hygienist may polish their teeth or apply a fluoride treatment. No matter what we accomplish in the chair, the visit ends with a trip to the “treasure box” and a brand new toothbrush. Our primary goal is to have the child leave happy, and excited for their next appointment.
**If any concerns come up during the first visit, or any diagnosis of dental problems, we will address next steps without alarming your child**
How do I prevent my child from developing cavities?
Cavity prevention starts with early intervention and education. You can help your child to avoid tooth decay by teaching proper brushing and flossing techniques, and emphasizing the importance of good hygiene habits right from the start. It is also very important that you set a good example for your child by showing them that oral hygiene is important to you as well.
Another contributing factor in early decay among children is diet. Minimizing sugary or sticky foods can help. Also, be mindful that there is hidden sugar in many otherwise healthy foods, including fruit, juice, and even milk.
Regular dental check ups and cleanings are recommended as soon as your child’s first tooth has erupted. Generally, every six months is a good guideline for your child’s routine dental care. These visits may involve fluoride treatments or the placement of sealants or preventive resins on teeth that are particularly susceptible to decay, such as molars or premolars with deep pits and grooves in their natural anatomy.
What is done at a routine dental or dental hygiene visit for a child?
At their regular six month dentist appointment, your child will have a check-up with the dentist to evaluate for oral health concerns or tooth decay. This examination may involve xrays or photos to allow clear diagnosis of areas in between the teeth that are not yet visible in the mouth. The dentist will also be looking for any concerns with the growth and development of the teeth and jaws.
The dental hygienist will clean the child’s teeth, using specialized dental instruments and equipment. All plaque, tartar buildup and stain will be removed by scaling or polishing the tooth surfaces.
Fluoride is often applied at the end of the visit to help to strengthen the enamel and aid in preventing decay. Sealants may also be recommended based on your child’s individual needs and dental anatomy.
What types of children’s dental services do you offer at Smile Centre?
At Pickering Smile Centre we provide many services to our littlest patients:
- Preventive Regular check ups help to prevent problems and catch others early.
- Dental Hygiene Scaling, polishing and fluoride treatments.
- Oral Hygiene Education Help both children and parents to understand the importance of good oral hygiene habits.
- Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF) Treatment SDF is used to slow or stop existing cavities from progressing without drilling or restoring the tooth. This is a non-invasive way to treat decay in young children without sedation or injections and drilling.
- Sealants & Preventive Resins A preventive treatment to seal pits and grooves to prevent decay in vulnerable areas.
- Restorative Dental fillings or crowns to repair decayed or fractured teeth.
- Extractions Sometimes children require teeth to be removed. Whether due to accident or decay, or when needed for orthodontic intervention, we can help.
- Sedation for Kids Even when we do our very best to ensure comfort, some children are unable to sit through dental treatment. We offer Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas) as a way to help children who are very young, nervous or fearful, or those who require longer or more extensive dental visits. Laughing gas is a very safe and predictable solution for many children who otherwise may have trouble tolerating dental procedures.
- Orthodontic We offer early intervention Invisalign treatment for children as young as 7 years old, as well as pre-teens, adults and teens
- Emergency Care Accidents happen — we are here to help when you need it the most
Building Trust & Confidence in Kids
At the Smile Centre, we treat all of our patients like family, and that includes our youngest visitors too. We strive to make all of our children’s dental visits stress free, and even enjoyable! Our dentists are friendly, patient, and offer excellent support for all adults and children. We want to help you and your family to keep your teeth for life, and we will be a part of your dental journey from start to finish.
Contact us today to schedule your child’s first appointment.
Book a Kids’ Dental Appointment Today!
📅 Same-day & emergency appointments available
📍 Located at Pickering Smile Centre, inside the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre
💻 Schedule a virtual consultation or an in-office visit today!
Give your child the best possible start for a lifetime of healthy smiles!