CHILDREN´S DENTISTRY
CHILDREN´S DENTISTRY IN SIMCOE, ONT.
Good oral health starts by teaching children how to properly care for their teeth, visiting the dentist regularly, and taking advantage of services we offer specifically for our youngest patients. Your child’s first dental visit should be booked when the first tooth erupts, or by age 1. Beyond a general checkup and cleaning, children can benefit from our other services including sealants, fluoride application, orthodontics, x-rays, and nitrous sedation (laughing gas).
What to Expect
A practice visit, or ‘ride in the chair’ can be arranged to help your child get used to our office and dental team, and erase any fears or anxiety they may have. Your child will have his or her teeth counted, a cleaning and demonstration on how to properly care for their teeth.Our prime objective is to develop a happy, healthy relationship between our dental team and your child. We provide many child-friendly services, such as a play area in our waiting room and a treasure chest full of toys to reward your child after a dental visit.
If restorative procedures, such as fillings or extractions, need to be done, we offer pain-free treatments including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), numbing gel and local anesthetic. Laughing gas is inhaled through the nose with a scented mask, and helps to calm and relax the child to make the procedure easier for them. They can expect to feel tingly in their arms and legs, as well as sleepy. The effects of the gas quickly wear off within a few minutes after the procedure is complete. Most procedures do not require a needle as problems are usually caught early at hygiene appointments and can be fixed easily and quickly without pain. In the event that a needle is required, we apply flavoured numbing gel to the area and describe to them exactly what they will be feeling and for how long. Parents are welcome to be in the treatment room to comfort their child, and you can also bring headphones if your child wishes to listen to music to help calm them during the procedure.
Results
Quality dental care will help your child grow up cavity free. Primary teeth play a vital role in the development of future dental health. They allow the jaw to develop correctly and permanent ‘adult’ teeth to assume their proper position in the mouth. Your child will leave our office with the knowledge and skills to properly clean and care for their teeth for a lifetime. Contact our office today to book your child’s first appointment.
CHILDREN ORTHODONTICS
Early orthodontic treatment takes advantage of the time when young children’s bones and muscles are growing rapidly. This allows the dentist to influence growth and perfect the bite, accomplishing things that cannot be done as easily as the child ages, and prevent future bite problems. Early orthodontics can correct or prevent an unbalanced profile, overbite, under-bite, cross-bite, deep bite, open bite, overlapping or crowded teeth, difficulty chewing, open mouth breathing, speech problems, tongue thrusting, thumb sucking and jaw joint problems.
What to Expect
Early orthodontics can be achieved through the use of many different appliances including a palatal expander, habit corrector, functional appliance, braces, headgear or a retainer. This can be followed up with braces or another form of orthodontics to complete the treatment. The appliance is made by taking impressions of the teeth that are sent to a lab where the appliance is created. It will then be tried in the mouth and adjusted if needed. Appliances are typically removable and can be cleaned with toothpaste. Your child will return to our office every few weeks to have the appliance adjusted and ensure it is working properly. You may be required to expand the appliance at home with a key. The teeth may be sore after adjustments because of the pressure being exerted to move teeth or expand the mouth. Taking pain medication or eating soft foods and liquids can counteract this.
Results
Treatment typically ends when all of the adult teeth have erupted. If required, your child will move onto phase two orthodontics, which may include braces. It is important to follow the dentist’s directions, and wear a retainer if necessary, to keep the results.
Make your child´s appointment in our Simcoe clinic.
WHAT ARE DENTAL SEALANTS AND DOES MY CHILD NEED THEM?
Dental sealants are a quick, easy, and relatively cheap solution for preventing cavities. Although the idea behind sealants is not new, they’re quickly becoming the go-to treatment for kids who need extra help in the dental department.
What to Expect
Tooth Preparation
The dental sealant procedure does not require drilling into tooth surfaces. The tooth that is to be sealed must be carefully cleaned to provide a good surface for the sealant. Cotton may be placed around the tooth while it is being prepared for the procedure. A compound is applied to the tooth to roughen the surface, which will make it easier for teeth sealants to stick to the tooth. This compound is allowed to dry before the sealant is applied.
The sealant is then painted onto the surface of the prepared tooth. We will ensure that the sealant is applied only to the areas that are to be treated. The sealant will dry very quickly, in just a few seconds. Afterward, the patients can eat and drink normally.
If restorative procedures, such as fillings or extractions, need to be done, we offer pain-free treatments including nitrous oxide (laughing gas), numbing gel and local anesthetic. Laughing gas is inhaled through the nose with a scented mask, and helps to calm and relax the child to make the procedure easier for them. They can expect to feel tingly in their arms and legs, as well as sleepy. The effects of the gas quickly wear off within a few minutes after the procedure is complete. Most procedures do not require a needle as problems are usually caught early at hygiene appointments and can be fixed easily and quickly without pain. In the event that a needle is required, we apply flavoured numbing gel to the area and describe to them exactly what they will be feeling and for how long. Parents are welcome to be in the treatment room to comfort their child, and you can also bring headphones if your child wishes to listen to music to help calm them during the procedure.
Results
Dental sealants have been shown to reduce the risk of cavities in the teeth that are covered. Decades of research demonstrate that coating the biting surface of 6-year molars with a resin-based sealant can reduce cavities by up to nearly 80% immediately, and up to 60% for four years or more.
FLUORIDE APPLICATION
Fluoride is a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse. Fluoride varnish is made with fluoride, a mineral that can strengthen tooth enamel (outer coating on teeth). Keep in mind that fluoride treatments cannot completely prevent cavities. Fluoride treatments can best help prevent decay when a child is also brushing using the right amount of toothpaste with fluoride, flossing regularly, getting regular dental care, and eating a healthy diet.
What to Expect
Fluoride varnish is painted on the top and sides of each tooth with a small brush. It is sticky but hardens once it comes in contact with saliva. Your child may feel the hardened varnish with his/her tongue but will not be able to lick the varnish off. It does not hurt when the varnish is applied. However, young children may still cry before or during the procedure. Fortunately, brushing on the varnish takes only a few minutes. Your child can eat and drink right after the fluoride varnish is applied. But only give your child soft foods and cold or warm (not hot) foods or liquids. Do not brush or floss teeth for at least 4 to 6 hours.
Results
Fluoride varnish provides extra protection against tooth decay when used in addition to brushing. Studies have shown that fluoride varnish gives added protection to teeth against decay when used in addition to brushing teeth regularly with fluoride toothpaste.
Make your child´s appointment in our Simcoe clinic.
X RAYS FOR CHILDREN
There is no standard timetable for when your child’s mouth should be X-rayed. The need varies with the child’s development and dental health. If your child has had many cavities and fillings or has a high risk of tooth decay, it is recommended X-rays every six months. This can help to detect cavities developing between teeth. Whether X-rays are needed also depends on how well your child brushes and flosses, and your child’s diet.
Description
The need for dental X-ray films varies for each child. They are most likely taken to identify potential problems unseen by a visual exam. Generally, children need X-rays more often than adults as their mouths are still growing and changing. In addition, they are more susceptible to tooth decay and thus are important to identify potential cavities with early diagnosis.
What to Expect
During the x-ray, your child will wear a protective lead body apron which acts to shield and protect them from exposure. Using the most up-to-date equipment, unnecessary x-rays beams are filtered while high-speed film and proper shielding minimize your child’s radiation exposure. Contemporary safeguards minimize your child’s exposure to radiation. The amount of radiation received during a dental x-ray exam is extremely minimal and poses negligible risk to your child.
Results
In addition to detecting cavities in teeth, X-rays also identity erupting teeth, help diagnose bone disease, plan orthodontic treatment or diagnose other health conditions that are difficult to identify with a visual exam. Dental problems found and treated early enough are generally more comfortable for the child and more affordable.