Cool Smiles Children's Dentistry

We recommend that you make an appointment to see us as soon as your child gets his or her first tooth. The Canada Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child be seen by six months after the first tooth erupts or by one year of age, whichever is first.

All dental specialists (pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and others) begin by completing dental school, then continue their education with several years of additional, specialized training. During training in the field of pediatric dentistry, one of our pediatric dentists gained extensive knowledge and experience in treating infants, children, and adolescents. Pediatric dentists enjoy working with children, and bring to each patient our expertise in childhood development and behavior. Because our office is geared toward young visitors, you’ll find that our staff as well as our office design, decorations, and activities, work together to provide an especially friendly and comfortable environment for children.

The first visit is usually short and simple. In most cases, we focus on getting to know your son or daughter and giving you some basic information about dental care. one of our pediatric dentists will check your youngster’s teeth for placement and health, and look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw. If necessary, we may do a bit of cleaning. We will also answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth as they develop, and provide materials that contain helpful tips you can refer to at home.

The best preparation for your first visit to our office is ti maintain a positive attitude. Children pick up on adults’ apprehensions and if you make negative comments about trips to the dentist, you can be sure your child will anticipate an unpleasant experience and act accordingly. Show your little one the pictures of the office and staff on the website. Let him or her know it’s important to keep our teeth and gums healthy, and that one of our pediatric dentists will help to do that. Remember that he is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment.

We generally recommend scheduling a checkup every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits.

Although they don’t last as long as permanent teeth, those first teeth play an important role in development. While they’re in place, primary teeth help your little one speak, smile, and chew properly. They also hold space in the jaw for permanent teeth. If a child loses a tooth too early (due to damage or decay), nearby teeth may encroach on the space, which can result in crooked or misplaced permanent teeth. Also, your child’s general health is affected by the oral health of the teeth and gums.

Even before that first tooth appears, we recommend you clean the infant’s gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as the first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You can most likely find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore.

Once your son or daughter has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two, because too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children. Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing, to begin a lifelong habit he or she will need after graduating to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing, but swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth until he or she is ready to take on that responsibility, which usually happens by age six or seven.

Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, and eventually eat through the enamel and create holes in the teeth, which we call cavities.

Make sure your child brushes his or her teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, as flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with us about a fluoride supplement, which helps tooth enamel become harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so we can check the health of your youngster’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.

Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.

Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.

The large majority of children suck their thumbs or fingers as infants, and most grow out of it by the age of four without causing any permanent damage to their teeth. If you child continues sucking after permanent teeth erupt, or sucks aggressively, let us know and we can check to see if any problems may arise from the habit.

We recommend taking X-rays around the age of two or three. The first set consists of simple pictures of the front upper and lower teeth, which familiarizes your child with the process. Once the baby teeth in back are touching each other, then regular (at least yearly) X-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six, and X-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your little one is at a high risk of dental problems, we may suggest having X-rays taken at an earlier age.

We make every effort to ensure that you and your child have a good experience in our office. We work hard so that the care provided is not only of the highest quality, but is also provided in a safe and efficient manner. Every effort is made so that your child leaves our office with a positive view of dentistry and is excited to return. Despite best efforts to prevent decay, some very young children present to our office with cavities. At other times, older children present with a large amount of dental treatment that is required. Our goal is that every child will eventually be able to be treated in the office setting. However, a child may be unable to cooperate for the extensive treatment because of young age, or a child may not be able to cooperate if multiple appointments of treatment are required, especially if freezing is needed. In cases such as these, it is appropriate to choose for the patient to undergo the dental treatment under general anesthesia. General anesthesia is very safe, and is provided by medical anesthesiologists and nurses from Alberta Children’s Hospital at a private surgical suite in Calgary. The advantage is that all treatment required can be accomplished at one time and the treatment provided is of the highest quality. Your child would be spared the trauma that may negatively affect their view of dentistry for the rest of their life. Once treatment is accomplished, with a fresh start, we can work together towards lifelong oral health.