Pediatrics
Unlike a general dentist, a pediatric dentist (children’s dentist) has two to three years of additional study and training. This program of hands-on experience emphasizes child psychology, growth, and development. The pediatric dentists at Chestermere Station know how to examine and treat children (not always the most cooperative of subjects) in ways that make them comfortable and safe. You will notice that our pediatric dental office is specially designed, arranged, and decorated with children in mind. Our child-centered team is devoted to delivering the best quality care for infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs.
We want you and your child to feel as if you are part of our extended family. We want your child’s first dental experience to be a positive one! Since we know that every child is unique, it is our goal to teach children the skills necessary to start them on the path to a lifetime of good oral health.
We strive to provide pediatric dental services in a facility offering our valued patients professional, safe and compassionate care. We achieve this by using a highly skilled and friendly team of professional dental health providers to attend to your child’s needs.
Our team teaches children what to expect during simple dental procedures such as dental exams, teeth cleanings, and x-rays.
We use behavioral techniques to overcome any worry your child may have in relation to a new experience. Helping your child learn that sitting in a dental chair is no different than any other learned skill (such as dressing, toilet training, brushing teeth). Teaching these skills requires specialized knowledge, patience, and time. However, to us, it is also about making these visits fun!
At Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that not all children experience things the same way. It is our goal for your child to have a positive experience each and every time they visit the dentist so that they can be encouraged towards a lifetime of oral health and wellness!
During your child’s first visit, we will review their dental and medical history, tooth brushing and flossing routines, home care, diet (including hidden sugars), snacking habits, observing any restored or missing teeth, visible plaque, and any new cavities that we see (including white spots, holes in the teeth).
We will complete a new patient examination, often update any X-rays that are necessary. Our pediatric dentist will then create an individual treatment plan, reviewing which options are right for your child.
For this reason, we do not offer treatment to be done on the same day as the first visit to our office.
While we do know everyone’s time is important, our goal is to make your child feel safe and comfortable and to answer any questions you may have about your child’s dental care and about your insurance coverage for your child’s treatment.
A child’s first visit to the dentist should be enjoyable. We make a special effort to use pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe each treatment because we want you and your child to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives. Small children will often resist the first dental look, but they quickly become our best helpers with positive encouragement.
Prior to the appointment, you can help your child prepare for the visit. Please avoid using words that can create anxiety and fear such as “needle, shot, or drill”. We carefully select words that will foster a pleasant experience at their first appointment and beyond!
Words We Recommend
Please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment to give you time to fill out all patient forms. We ask that the child’s parent or legal guardian please accompany the patient.
At Chestermere Station Dentistry, we always have a dentist on call to handle emergency situations. Please call us at (587) 349-5858 for the on-call contact information.
Pediatric Questions
What is a Dental Filling?
A dental filling removes a cavity (decay) from the damaged area of a tooth restoring it back to its normal function, preventing any decay from spreading or getting worse. Our Pediatric Dentist will consider several factors when choosing which type of filling material is best for your child. These factors will include the extent of repair needed, and location of the tooth.
What is an Extraction?
There can be many reasons why your Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentist will recommend a tooth extraction for your child. Some patients suffer from tooth decay while others need to have their teeth removed due to crowding concerns. If a child’s tooth is too severely decayed or fractured beyond repair, it’s a good idea to have it removed.
What is a Stainless-Steel Crown?
When a baby tooth is extensively decayed, and other types of filling materials are not likely to be successful, it is recommended that restoring the tooth with a Stainless-Steel Crown may be the best option. After removing all the decay, the dentist will fit the tooth with an inexpensive, durable prefabricated “metal alloy” crown.
What is the Right Restorative Option for My Child?
There are several factors that influence the performance, durability, longevity, and expense of dental restorations. It all depends on how much tooth structure is remaining, where the filling is to be placed, the depth to which to restoration is placed, the chewing load on the tooth, the components to be used for filling material, and the number of visits needed to prepare the restored teeth.
What Are Dental Sealants?
Dental Sealant aids in protecting the biting surfaces of the teeth and can help keep cavities from occurring. Sealing the teeth helps keep bacteria from adhering to the surface or down into the deep grooves of the teeth. This, in turn, prevents decay and makes the teeth easier to clean.
A sealant is a thin coating made of a plastic material that is typically painted on in a liquid form. This liquid sealant is bonded to the teeth and forms a protective layer. The application of the sealant is quick, easy and painless and can usually be applied during a routine checkup or cleaning visit.
What is Pulp Treatment?
A pulpotomy or pulpectomy, also known as “baby root canal treatment,” is a procedure in which a portion of the living tissue inside a tooth is removed due to infection. This is done on baby teeth to prevent future dental pain and to help restore the baby tooth so that it can be maintained in your child’s mouth until the adult tooth comes in.
What Are Space Maintainers?
Space maintainers are appliances made of metal that are custom fit to your child’s mouth. They are small and unobtrusive, and most children adjust quickly to them after the first few days of placement. We use a space maintainer appliance to hold the space created from a tooth being prematurely lost. This appliance is used to stabilize the surrounding teeth and prevent the other teeth from drifting into the area of the lost tooth.
What should I do if my child’s tooth is knocked out?
Baby teeth are not recommended to be replanted if knocked out. If it is a permanent tooth, gently rinse it in cold water if soiled. Do not scrub it or clean it with soap. If possible, replace the tooth in the socket and hold it in place with clean gauze or a washcloth. If you can’t put the tooth back in the socket, place the tooth in a clean container with cold milk, then please call our office.
What if my child has a toothache?
To help comfort your child give them some children’s acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) if there are no allergies to the medication. Brush thoroughly after each meal and try to gently remove any impacted food out of the cavity (by brushing or flossing). Call our office to arrange an appointment.
What is fluoride treatment?
At Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry, we promote fluoride treatment as one of the most effective ways to prevent tooth decay and support excellent oral health for your child. Fluoride is safe, effective and acts as a shield for the outer enamel layer of the teeth. It is also beneficial in strengthening developing teeth as well as reducing the risk of early decay.
The treatment we use is a “paint on” varnish that has increased levels of fluoride compared to what is found in water and toothpaste. Having fluoride professionally applied can be very useful in decreasing dental decay in children, especially those that are at high-risk for dental decay.
Pediatric Sedation Options
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous Oxide is a safe and effective way of providing your child with the dental treatment they need. At Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry, we often use nitrous oxide sedation to reduce the fear and anxiety your child may be having about their dental appointment. Nitrous oxide is more commonly referred to as laughing gas and can also be beneficial in pain management. It works well for children who experience a moderate to severe gag reflex when having dental treatment.
General Anesthesia
We recommend treatment under general anesthesia to help the child sleep soundly during their dental treatment. It allows your child to get the dental treatment they need without experiencing any awareness of pain, sensation, noise or movement during the dental procedure. General Anesthesia may be needed for children with extensive dental needs, uncooperative patients or for those who are extremely fearful or anxious. General Anesthesia may also be suitable for those children with special needs. This treatment cannot be performed in our office, so we work with a pediatric surgical facility in Calgary where the anesthesia is done by pediatric anestheologist doctors and nurses.
Treatment For Special Needs Children
At Chestermere Station Pediatric Dentistry, we understand that children with special needs are unique and require a higher level of care. Our team are specially trained and experienced in providing personalized, individual care to all patients. Since we treat children with a broad spectrum of needs, you can trust our team to provide your child with the highest quality of care.
