Frequently Asked Questions.

A pediatric dentist is a recognized specialty in Canada that deals with infants, children, adolescents and the special needs population. We have had additional training that allows us to place a large emphasis on prevention and provide primary and comprehensive care through specialized techniques of behaviour management.

Your child should first see a dentist within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by their first birthday.

Primary teeth are important because they help guide the eruption and alignment of the permanent teeth. Not fixing cavities in primary teeth, can lead to pain, infection, sleepless nights, difficulty eating and facial swelling.

The first primary tooth erupts at around 6 months of age. Please see the figure below to see the eruption schedule for the remainder of their teeth.

The first adult tooth erupts at around 6 years of age. Please see the figure below to see the eruption schedule for the remainder of their teeth.

Signs of teething can include: difficulty sleeping, irregular feeding patterns, irritability, slight fever, loose stool, and drooling.

Pain Management can include the use of:

Teething rings/cloths placed in the fridge
 NEVER place these in the freezer

Children’s acetaminophen (ie. Tylenol®) or children’s ibuprofen (ie. Advil®)

Infants should have their gums wiped after every meal with a baby cloth. Once their first tooth erupts you should begin brushing with a toothbrush. Adults should brush their teeth after every meal. Once they have the manual dexterity to tie their own shoelaces they are ready to brush their own teeth.

Any widely available reputable brand is fine. There are some studies that demonstrate that electric toothbrushes are more effective at removing plaque…however, a number of these studies have been funded by electric toothbrush manufacturers.

In the end, the electric toothbrush is a ‘gimmick’, as long as you are able to brush your child’s teeth, it doesn’t matter that you use either a manual or electric toothbrush.

Toothpaste that contains fluoride. For the first year of life, the amount of toothpaste applied to the toothbrush should be no more than a grain of rice. By their second birthday, the amount of toothpaste applied to the toothbrush should be no more than the size of a green pea.

We are a non-assignment office which means that the visit must be paid at the end of each appointment. If you have dental insurance coverage for kids’ dental treatment, we will gladly submit the claims for you electronically so that a speedy reimbursement would be issued back to you. For orthodontic treatment, if your insurance coverage is partial to none, we can help you by providing a zero-interest payment plan, which will be explained during our initial orthodontics consultation appointment.