Frequently Asked Questions.
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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.
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Your child should first see a dentist within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by their first birthday.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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®)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Yes. Our office does accept the CDCP (Canadian Dental Care Program). However, we utilize the paediatric dental specialty fee guide set out by the Ontario Dental Association (ODA). You are required to pay any difference between the CDCP and the ODA specialty fee guide that are not paid by the program.
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Yes! We do accept the Healthy Smiles Ontario program. You must have referral from a family dentist. You will have to return back to your family dentist after all necessary dental treatment is completed.
Orthodontic Frequently Asked Questions
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In general, for growing children, we recommend at age of 8 if there is any crowding, or age 10-11 when a child is about to hit the growth spurt or puberty. This is to utilize their growth in favour to improve upper and lower jaw relationship as needed. However, if you or your child’s dentist notices any problem, do not hesitate to come in for a consultation. We provide interceptive treatment as young as 5-6 years old if needed.
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It has become more of a personal preference. During the consultation, we can help you to decide which one would be the best option for your case.
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During the first few months, it is okay to leave it until the next appointment to have it fixed. However, if it bothers your daily function, book an appointment to come in earlier.
For the finishing stage towards the end of the treatment, it is critical to have it replaced as soon as possible, so if you are almost finishing braces treatment, call us right away to book an appointment.
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Cold drinks or ice cream help ease the discomfort. Also, any over-the-counter pain medication can be taken to help during the first couple of days after adjustments.
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Use a piece of wax to block the end of the wire and book an appointment to come in to get it fixed.
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We will introduce new ways to floss using floss threaders or super floss. Also, we recommend getting a water floss device, such as WaterPik, or any brand of your choice, to make it easier to maintain healthy oral hygiene practices.
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There is NO age limit, as long as patients have good periodontal health. We offer braces treatment for all ages. Orthodontic treatment can be a great adjunctive option for a future esthetic prosthodontic dental treatment, in order to place teeth at a better position and better angle. Dr. Janet communicates with your own family dentists to ensure the process is seamless.
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Basically, anything too hard, chewy, or sticky, such as whole nuts, crunchy granola or cereals, gums, and gummies. Remember there are so many good foods to enjoy still with braces, do not let it deter to improve your smile!