Dentist For Children in Woodbridge |Pediatric Dentist

What is a Dental Home?
When should my child first see a dentist?
What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?
Why are baby teeth so important?
Are x-rays safe?
How should I help take care of my child’s teeth?
How do I make my child’s diet safe for his/her teeth?
How do I prevent cavities?
How do dental sealants work?
What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?
When will my baby start getting teeth?
When does the first teeth erupt?
What should I do if my child is in pain?
What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a tooth?
Is fluoride safe?
What is pulp therapy?
How do I stop my child from grinding his teeth at night?
How do I get my child to stop thumb sucking?
Tongue piercing – Is it really cool?
Are mouth guards effective?

What is a Dental Home?

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD) supports the concept of a “dental home” for all infants, children, adolescents and persons with special health needs. This concept is based on the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and their definition of a “medical home”. Children who have a dental home are more likely to receive appropriate preventive and routine oral health care. The establishment of a dental home allows for a cost-effective and higher quality health care alternative to emergency care situations.

When should my child first see a dentist?

According to the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD) your child should visit the dentist by his/her 1st birthday. You can make the first visit to the dentist enjoyable and positive. Your child should be informed of the visit and told that the dentist and their staff will explain all procedures and answer any questions.

It is best if you refrain from using words around your child that might cause unnecessary fear, such as needle, pull, drill or hurt. Pediatric dental offices make a practice of using words that convey the same message, but are pleasant and non-frightening to the child.

What is the difference between a pediatric dentist and a family dentist?

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years of specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are dedicated to the comprehensive oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years, including those with special health needs.

Why are baby teeth so important?

It is very important to maintain the health of the primary (baby) teeth. Neglected cavities can and frequently do lead to problems which affect developing permanent teeth. Primary teeth, or baby teeth are important for (1) proper chewing and eating, (2) providing space for the permanent teeth and guiding them into the correct position, and (3) permitting normal development of the jaw bones and muscles. Primary teeth also affect the development of speech and add to an attractive appearance. While the front 4 teeth last until 6-7 years of age, the back teeth (canines and molars) aren’t replaced until age 10-13.

Are x-rays safe?

Radiographs (X-Rays) are a vital and necessary part of your child’s dental diagnostic process. Without them, certain dental conditions can and will be missed.

Radiographs detect much more than cavities. For example, radiographs may be needed to survey erupting teeth, diagnose bone diseases, evaluate the results of an injury, or plan orthodontic treatment. Radiographs allow us to diagnose and treat health conditions that cannot be detected during a clinical examination. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable for your child and more affordable for you.

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends radiographs and examinations every six months for children with a high risk of tooth decay. On average, most pediatric dentists request radiographs approximately once a year for moderate risk children, and once every 2 years for low risk children.

Pediatric dentists are particularly careful to minimize the exposure of their patients to radiation. With contemporary safeguards, the amount of radiation received in a dental X-ray examination is extremely small. The risk is negligible. In fact, the dental radiographs represent a far smaller risk than an undetected and untreated dental problem. Lead body aprons and shields will protect your child. Today’s equipment filters out unnecessary x-rays and restricts the x-ray beam to the area of interest. High-speed film and proper shielding assure that your child receives a minimal amount of radiation exposure. Many dental offices are utilizing digital x-rays that further reduce radiation by 50%.

How should I help take care of my child’s teeth?

Start oral health care early. Wipe your infant’s gums with a soft wet washcloth. This will allow them to be familiar with regular oral care. The first teeth appear about six months after birth. You may continue to use a washcloth when there are only front teeth erupted. However when the molars erupt, daily brushing should begin. If your child has grown up without getting used to regular oral care, you could have a difficult time. If there is a battle, the battle must be won by you. The plaque cannot be allowed to remain on your child’s teeth.

Unless otherwise recommended by your child’s dentist, brushing with water or a non-fluoridated toothpaste is sufficient until your child learns how to rinse and spit. A pea size amount of fluoride toothpaste can be used after the child is old enough not to swallow it.

Parents must be responsible for making sure their children’s teeth are clean until the child is about eight years old. Younger children do not have the manual dexterity required to do a proper job of brushing. However, each child is different. Your dentist can help you determine whether the child has the skill level to brush properly.

Proper brushing removes plaque from the inner, outer and chewing surfaces. When teaching children to brush, place toothbrush at a 45 degree angle; start along gum line with a soft bristle brush in a gentle circular motion. Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth, upper and lower. Repeat the same method on the inside surfaces and chewing surfaces of all the teeth. Finish by brushing the tongue to help freshen breath and remove bacteria.

Flossing removes plaque between the teeth where a toothbrush can’t reach. Flossing should begin when any two teeth touch (it can be as early as 4 years old!). You should floss the child’s teeth until he or she can do it alone. Use about 18 inches of floss, winding most of it around the middle fingers of both hands. Hold the floss lightly between the thumbs and forefingers. Use a gentle, back-and-forth motion to guide the floss between the teeth. Curve the floss into a C-shape and slide it into the space between the gum and tooth until you feel resistance. Gently scrape the floss against the side of the tooth. Repeat this procedure on each tooth. Don’t forget the backs of the last four teeth.

Try to make it fun. Look for entertaining ideas to incorporate into the brushing routine. Let them brush your teeth first, then their own and finally you brush theirs. Laugh a lot and make it fun. You may want to let them brush their doll or favourite stuffed animal’s teeth. Remember, your enthusiasm is contagious. If your child sees you employing good dental hygiene, they will be more apt to follow your example.

How do I make my child’s diet safe for his/her teeth?

Healthy eating habits lead to healthy teeth. Like the rest of the body, the teeth, bones and the soft tissues of the mouth need a well-balanced diet. Children should eat a variety of foods from the five major food groups. Most snacks that children eat can lead to cavity formation. The more frequently a child snacks, the greater the chance for tooth decay. How long food remains in the mouth also plays a role. For example, sticky candy and breath mints stay in the mouth a long time, which cause longer acid attacks on tooth enamel. If your child must snack, choose nutritious foods such as vegetables, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese are healthier and better for children’s teeth. Ask your child’s dentist to help you select foods that protect your children’s teeth. Remember, sweet treats are acceptable but the key is moderation.

How Do I Prevent Cavities?

Good oral hygiene removes bacteria and the left over food particles that combine to create cavities. For infants, use a wet gauze or clean washcloth to wipe the plaque from teeth and gums. Avoid putting your child to bed with a bottle filled with anything other than water. See “Baby Bottle Tooth Decay” for more information.

For older children, brush their teeth at least twice a day. Saliva is a buffer that helps prevent cavities. It is especially important to go to bed with clean teeth since salivary flow is reduced while sleeping. Also, watch the number of snacks containing sugar that you give your children.

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD) and Ontario Society of Pediatric Dentists (OSPD) recommend six month visits to the pediatric dentist beginning at your child’s first birthday. Routine visits will start your child on a lifetime of good dental health.

Your pediatric dentist may also recommend protective sealants or home fluoride treatments for your child. Sealants can be applied to your child’s molars to prevent decay on hard to clean surfaces.

How do dental sealants work?

Permanent molars and premolars have deep grooves on the chewing surface that plaque and bacteria like to live in. A sealant is a clear or shaded plastic material that is applied to the grooves of the back teeth, where four out of five cavities in children are found. This sealant acts as a barrier to food, plaque and acid, thus protecting the decay-prone areas of the teeth (similar to weather-sealing your deck). The application is fast and comfortable and can effectively protect teeth for many years. Baby teeth tend to be more prone to cavities between the teeth rather than the chewing surfaces. Based on your child’s caries risk assessment, your child’s dentist may also recommend sealants on the primary teeth.

What is Baby Bottle Tooth Decay?

One serious form of decay among young children is baby bottle tooth decay also known as early childhood caries (ECC). This condition is caused by frequent and long exposures of an infant’s teeth to liquids that contain sugar. Among these liquids are milk (including breast milk), formula, fruit juice and other sweetened drinks.
Putting a baby to bed for a nap or at night with a bottle other than water can cause serious and rapid tooth decay.

Sweet liquid pools around the child’s teeth giving plaque bacteria an opportunity to produce acids that attack tooth enamel. If you must give the baby a bottle as a comforter at bedtime, it should contain only water. If your child won't fall asleep without the bottle and its usual beverage, gradually dilute the bottle's contents with water over a period of two to three weeks.

After each feeding, wipe the baby’s gums and teeth with a damp washcloth or gauze pad to remove plaque. The easiest way to do this is to sit down, place the child’s head in your lap or lay the child on a dressing table or the floor. Whatever position you use, be sure you can see into the child’s mouth easily.

When Will My Baby Start Getting Teeth?

Teething, the process of baby (primary) teeth coming through the gums into the mouth, is variable among individual babies. Some babies get their teeth early and some get them late. In general the first baby teeth are usually the lower front (anterior) teeth and usually begin erupting between the age of 6-8 months. See “Eruption of Your Child’s Teeth” for more details.

When does the first teeth erupt?

Children’s teeth begin forming before birth. As early as 4 months, the first primary (or baby) teeth to erupt through the gums are the lower central incisors, followed closely by the upper central incisors. Although all 20 primary teeth usually appear by age 3, the pace and order of their eruption varies.
Permanent teeth begin appearing around age 6, starting with the first molars and lower central incisors. This process continues until approximately age 21.

Adults have 28 permanent teeth, or up to 32 including the third molars (or wisdom teeth).

TOOTH DEVELOPMENT

What should I do if my child is in pain?

Teething: Everyone is familiar with teething when the baby teeth erupt. Children will also get teething pain when the permanent first molars erupt (around 6 years of age) and when the 2nd permanent molars erupt (around 12 years of age). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (Advil, Motrin) help keep teething discomfort to a minimum.

Toothache: Clean the area of the affected tooth thoroughly. Rinse the mouth vigorously with warm water or use dental floss to dislodge impacted food or debris. If the pain still exists, contact your child's dentist. DO NOT place aspirin on the gum or on the aching tooth. To keep your child comfortable, children’s Advil, Motrin, or Tylenol may be sufficient until your child is able to see the dentist. If the face is swollen apply cold compresses and contact your dentist immediately.

Swollen, red gums, inability to eat: This is most commonly primary herpetic stomatitis, a viral infection that usually has a two week course. Contact your child’s dentist to verify the diagnosis. Keep your child hydrated with cool drinks, Popsicles and soft bland diet. Tylenol, Advil, Motrin is usually sufficient to keep your child comfortable. If your child has a medical condition, your child’s dentist may also prescribe antiviral medications.

Cut or Bitten Tongue, Lip or Cheek: Apply ice to bruised areas. If there is bleeding apply firm but gentle pressure with a gauze or cloth. If bleeding does not stop after 15 minutes or it cannot be controlled by simple pressure, take the child to hospital emergency room.

What should I do if my child falls and knocks out a tooth?

The important thing is to remain calm. Find the tooth/fragments if possible.

Knocked Out Primary Tooth: Do not attempt to replant. Keep it light hearted and show your child enthusiasm that the tooth fairy will be coming early! Your child should still be seen by their dentist to assess any effects to neighbouring teeth.

Knocked Out Permanent Tooth: Find the tooth. Handle the tooth by the crown, not the root portion. You may rinse the tooth but DO NOT clean or handle the tooth unnecessarily. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it is sound, try to reinsert it in the socket. Have your child hold the tooth in place by biting on a gauze. If you cannot reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing your child’s saliva or chilled (low fat) milk. If your child is old enough, the tooth may also be carried in his/her mouth. Your child must see a dentist IMMEDIATELY! Time is a critical factor in saving the tooth.

Fractured Teeth: Find any tooth fragments. Check to see if there is any pulp exposure. Look for pink or red dots in the fractured area. Your child must see a dentist immediately particularly if it is a permanent tooth. If there is no pulp exposure, timing is not as crucial however your child’s teeth will be sensitive and should be seen by their dentist.

Is fluoride safe?

Fluoride is an element, which has been shown to be beneficial to teeth. However, too little or too much fluoride can be detrimental to the teeth. Little or no fluoride will not strengthen the teeth to help them resist cavities. Excessive fluoride ingestion by preschool-aged children can lead to dental fluorosis, which is a chalky white to even brown discoloration of the permanent teeth. Many children often get more fluoride than their parents realize. Being aware of a child’s potential sources of fluoride can help parents prevent the possibility of dental fluorosis.

Some of these sources are:

Too much fluoridated toothpaste at an early age.
The inappropriate use of fluoride supplements.
Hidden sources of fluoride in the child’s diet.
Two and three year olds may not be able to spit out fluoride-containing toothpaste when brushing. As a result, these youngsters may ingest an excessive amount of fluoride during tooth brushing. Toothpaste ingestion during this critical period of permanent tooth development is the greatest risk factor in the development of fluorosis.
Excessive and inappropriate intake of fluoride supplements may also contribute to fluorosis. Fluoride drops and tablets, as well as fluoride-fortified vitamins should not be given to infants younger than six months of age. After that time, fluoride supplements should only be given to children after all of the sources of ingested fluoride have been accounted for and upon the recommendation of your pediatric dentist.
Certain foods contain high levels of fluoride, especially powdered concentrate infant formula, soy-based infant formula, infant dry cereals, creamed spinach, and infant chicken products. Please read the label or contact the manufacturer. Some beverages also contain high levels of fluoride, especially decaffeinated teas, white grape juices, and juice drinks manufactured in fluoridated cities. Another source of fluoride can be found in soft drinks at fast food restaurants, when blending the syrup and carbonation with the city water supply.

Parents can take the following steps to decrease the risk of fluorosis in their children’s teeth:

Use baby toothpaste on the toothbrush of the very young child.
Place only a pea sized drop of children’s toothpaste on the brush when brushing.
Account for all of the sources of ingested fluoride before requesting fluoride supplements from your child’s physician or pediatric dentist.
Avoid giving any fluoride-containing supplements to infants until they are at least 6 months old.
Obtain fluoride level test results for your drinking water before giving fluoride supplements to your child (check with local water utilities).

What is pulp therapy?

The pulp of a tooth is the inner central core of the tooth. The pulp contains nerves, blood vessels, connective tissue and reparative cells. The purpose of pulp therapy in pediatric Dentistry is to maintain the vitality of the affected tooth (so the tooth is not lost).

Dental caries (cavities) and traumatic injury are the main reasons for a tooth to require pulp therapy. Pulp therapy is often referred to as a "nerve treatment", "children's root canal", "pulpectomy" or "pulpotomy". The two common forms of pulp therapy in children's teeth are the pulpotomy (removal of diseased pulp tissue within the crown of the tooth) and pulpectomy (entire pulp is removed into the root canals). Teeth require pulp therapy are quite weak and the filling of choice is a stainless steel crown to ensure success of treatment.

How do I stop my child from grinding his teeth at night?

Parents are often concerned about the nocturnal grinding of teeth (bruxism). Often, the first indication is the noise created by the child grinding on their teeth during sleep. Or, the parent may notice wear (teeth getting shorter) to the dentition. One theory as to the cause involves a psychological component. Stress due to a new environment, divorce, changes at school; etc. can influence a child to grind their teeth. Another theory relates to pressure in the inner ear at night. If there are pressure changes (like in an airplane during take-off and landing when people are chewing gum, etc. to equalize pressure) the child will grind by moving his jaw to relieve this pressure.

The majority of cases of pediatric bruxism do not require any treatment. If excessive wear of the teeth (attrition) is present, then a mouth guard (night guard) may be indicated. The negatives to a mouth guard are the possibility of choking if the appliance becomes dislodged during sleep and it may interfere with growth of the jaws. The positive is obvious by preventing wear to the primary dentition.

The good news is most children outgrow bruxism. The grinding gets less between the ages 6-9 and children tend to stop grinding when they develop more permanent teeth, between ages 9-12. If you suspect bruxism, discuss this with your pediatric dentist.

How do I get my child to stop thumb sucking?

Sucking is a natural reflex and infants and young children may use thumbs, fingers, pacifiers and other objects on which to suck. It may make them feel secure and happy or provide a sense of security at difficult periods. Since thumb sucking is relaxing, it may induce sleep.

Thumb sucking that persists beyond the eruption of the permanent teeth can cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and tooth alignment. How intensely a child sucks on fingers or thumbs will determine whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs.

Children should cease thumb sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Usually, children stop between the ages of two and four. Peer pressure causes many school-aged children to stop.

Pacifiers are no substitute for thumb sucking. They can affect the teeth essentially the same way as sucking fingers and thumbs. However, use of the pacifier can be controlled and modified more easily than the thumb or finger habit. If you have concerns about thumb sucking or use of a pacifier, consult your pediatric dentist.
A few suggestions to help your child get through thumb sucking:

Instead of scolding children for thumb sucking, praise them when they are not.
Children often suck their thumbs when feeling insecure. Focus on correcting the cause of anxiety, instead of the thumb sucking.
Children who are sucking for comfort will feel less of a need when their parents provide comfort.
Reward children when they refrain from sucking during difficult periods, such as when being separated from their parents.
Your pediatric dentist can encourage children to stop sucking and explain what could happen if they continue.
If these approaches don’t work, remind the children of their habit by bandaging the thumb or putting a sock on the hand at night. Your pediatric dentist may recommend the use of a mouth appliance.

Tongue piercing – Is it really cool?

You might not be surprised anymore to see people with pierced tongues, lips or cheeks, but you might be surprised to know just how dangerous these piercings can be.

There are many risks involved with oral piercings including chipped or cracked teeth, blood clots, or blood poisoning. Your mouth contains millions of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Your tongue could swell large enough to close off your airway!

Common symptoms after piercing include pain, swelling, infection, an increased flow of saliva and injuries to gum tissue. Difficult-to-control bleeding or nerve damage can result if a blood vessel or nerve bundle is in the path of the needle.
So give your mouth a break – skip the mouth jewelry.

Are Mouth Guards effective?

		When a child begins to participate in recreational activities and organized sports, injuries can occur. A properly fitted mouth guard, or mouth protector, is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your child’s smile, and should be used during any activity that could result in a blow to the face or mouth. Mouth guards help prevent broken teeth, and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw and severe injury to the head (such as concussion). A properly fitted mouth guard will stay in place while your child is wearing it, making it easy for them to talk and breathe. Ask your pediatric dentist about custom and store-bought mouth protectors.

Renaissance Commercial Plaza | 8099 Weston Rd., Unit 22 | Vaughan, ON | L4L OC1

Telephone: (905)264-1KID(1543) | Fax Number: (905)264-1536 | MAP