Start as early as age 1! First tooth or first birthday = their first dental visit. Starting early is beneficial as it introduces your child to the dental environment, establishes a relationship with Dr. Sam, and helps to build good dental habits early on for a successful and healthy oral future!

It is normal to feel worried or anxious about your child’s first dental visit. You are unsure how they will react! At Happy Trails Children’s Dentistry, working with kids is what we do best! We work closely with parents to help your little one feel comfortable and at ease with us. Call us today to discuss what to expect!

A Pediatric dentist has successfully completed dental training to become a dentist. After that, they have spent an additional 2-3 years of extensive training in the development, anatomy and conditions, that are specific to infants, children, and adolescents (including children with special needs). At our pediatric dental office, everything is geared towards a child’s senses, in hopes of creating a positive and stress-free experience.

Once the first tooth arrives! Yes, this may seem early, but it is important to establish a good routine from the start. A soft-bristled toothbrush is best! You can also introduce fluoride toothpaste in the size of a grain of rice, to help eliminate the risk of tooth decay.

In accordance with the Canadian Dental Association, fluoride toothpaste can be used as early as age 1. Parents can apply a rice grain-sized toothpaste amount to the toothbrush.

Tooth grinding is a natural phenomenon in children. Often they will grind their teeth during the development of new teeth as they find their spot. It can be hard to hear, but rest assured, most children will outgrow it. Mouth guard use is difficult at this age due to the growing and changing nature of the child’s mouth.

Baby teeth (primary teeth), serve the same function as adult (permanent teeth). They help us to chew, speak, smile, talk and more! Keeping them healthy will help eliminate any pain or discomfort that your child may experience. They also act as a guide and place holder for the permanent teeth to grown into. Note: some baby teeth won’t fall out until 12-13 years old. As they can be in for a while, keeping them healthy is very crucial!

A dental emergency includes when teeth are knocked out or shifted out of place. It also includes when teeth are cracked teeth due to a trauma (fall or injury). Severe swelling in the face, mouth or jaw also indicates a dental emergency. Please call us if your child is in distress due to any of these causes. An emergency room visit may also be required. 

Many infants self-soothe  using a pacifier or their thumb/finger. It can be a hard habit to break! Dr. Sam recommends that children attempt to break the habit by age 3. Prolonged use of pacifiers or finger habits will affect the shape, growth, crowding, and alignment of a child’s smile. Positive reinforcement (sticker charts, rewards) can be an excellent approach. Our team can help with more habit-breaking suggestions! Feel free to reach out to us.

Of course! At Happy Trails Children’s Dentistry, we encourage parents to accompany the child during their visit. We enjoy meeting the whole family and creating a positive experience for your little one! *Due to COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing protocols we temporarily ask both patients and parents to wear a mask during their visit. We also try to limit one parent per child to help reduce the number of people in our facility for control on our traffic flow.*

The Canadian Dental Association, along with our team recommend that a child visit the dentist every six months. Routine check ups allow for early detection of oral health problems. From there our team can work with your child to improve their oral health and prevent problems from becoming worse. Some children, depending on their oral health condition, may require more frequent visits. Dr. Sam will be able to provide her recommendations on a per case basis.

Flossing should start as soon as two teeth are touching together. Flossing, at least once a day, is important for children to eliminate cavities that form “in-between” the teeth. Watch our flossing tips video for more information. 

Dental sealants are a protective coating that “seals” the grooves of teeth (usually the molars). These teeth are typically more susceptible to decay. Dental sealants are a great preventive measure against tooth decay. They are also tooth-coloured, making the look very natural! Dr. Sam will evaluate your child’s oral health to determine if they are a candidate for dental sealants. 

Children of all ages, in any kind of sports are susceptible to injuries. Luckily, injuries to teeth are easily avoidable with the use of a mouth guard. At Happy Trails Children’s Dentistry, we have many options available for mouth guards. We will discuss a personalized option that best protects your child’s smile!