Get the best care for your child

With over 29 years experience in Pediatrics we understand how to take special care of your special person.

PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

Almost every day we see adult patients that are extremely scared of dentists, and most of the time it was due to a bad experience as a child. It is therefore our vision to make the dental experience as positive as possible for all the children we see.

You can expect the following for your child:

  • Every child is different, and therefore needs a different introduction to dentistry. Often we would encourage parents to sit on the chair first. This can allow for a very playful interaction when mom or dad is on the chair and your child assists the dentist while being introduced to all the equipment and instruments.
  • Enough time will be scheduled for check-ups and treatment. Especially on the first visit we often need more time to introduce your child to dentistry in a relaxing and friendly manner.
  • We will never force any child to have treatment that they are not ready for!

Treatments offered specifically for children:

  • Dental check-ups
  • Dental cleanings
  • Fissure sealants
  • Pulpotomies and pulpectomies ( Root canal treatment on baby teeth)
  • Extraction of baby teeth
  • Fillings specific for baby teeth
  • Education on habits like thumb sucking, dummies etc
  • Dietary education

Orthodontic treatment:

  • Early interceptive treatment preventing future orthodontic problems
  • Functional treatment for habits like thumb sucking

A CHILD’S FIRST DENTAL VISIT

When should your child first see a dentist? Experts at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) say the ideal time is six months after the first tooth erupts. In my experience, it is useful to only introduce children to the dental practice at this stage.

FILLINGS

RESIN OR COMPOSITE FILLINGS (WHITE FILLINGS)

Composite fillings have several advantages in children:

  • They are tooth-colored. They blend in with the rest of the tooth and other teeth.
  • They are bonded to the tooth. This helps seal the filling and prevent decay around it. Placing a plastic filling is more complicated. This means your child may spend more time in the dentist’s chair.

SEDATIVE FILLINGS

Sedative fillings are placed on a tooth to reduce pain. Irritated or inflamed pulp can be the source of this pain. The pulp is the center part of the tooth that contains the blood vessels and nerves. A sedative filling calms the pulp. This reduces the chance that saliva or bacteria will leak into the tooth and irritate the pulp in the future.

Sedative fillings often are placed directly into the tooth. One of the most common types of sedative filling is zinc oxide and eugenol. This contains oil of cloves. Glass ionomers or resin/modified glass ionomers also are used for this type of filling. These materials may be placed on the tooth without any drilling.

A sedative filling is considered a stopgap measure. It often is used in very young children who can’t stand to sit in a dentist’s chair long enough to receive a regular filling. A sedative filling also may be used for a child who has a tooth injury and needs immediate relief.

Sedative fillings can last for about three to six months. Your dentist should regularly examine the sedative filling to be certain it is still in place and is fulfilling its purpose.

EXTRACTIONS

Extracting teeth for a child is not very difficult, but other options should be carefully considered before extraction. Many parents feel that their kid’s teeth should be taken out instead of being saved, but primary teeth have an important purpose, and removing them prematurely can cause a lot of problems.

Primary teeth encourage the normal development of jaw bones and muscles, and ensure that there is space for the permanent teeth to grow into. They also help guide those teeth into position. The healthier your child’s baby teeth are, the stronger their permanent teeth will be!

Fortunately, when necessary, a child tooth extraction is usually a simple procedure. Kids require much less anesthetic than adults and usually have very little to no discomfort during their procedures. They often are more excited about the Tooth Fairy coming and don’t worry about possible dental pain.