Pediatric Dentistry

Early Dental Assessments The Canadian Dental Association recommends that infants see a dentist within six months of the eruption of their first tooth or by one year of age. At Ardent Lynn Valley Centre, our goal is to have your child visit the dentist before any problems arise. Regular dental exams every six months allow us to catch small issues early.

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Three Reasons for Regular Dental Exams

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• Effective Home Care Evaluation: We can assess whether the cleaning you do at home is effective.
• Early Problem Detection: Regular visits enable us to find and fix problems immediately.
• Preventive Education: Your child can learn that regular dental visits help prevent problems.

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X-rays and Fluoride

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• X-rays: These help us detect decay between teeth and check if teeth are coming in correctly.
• Fluoride: We will discuss the benefits and risks of fluoride treatments with you.

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Sealants for Permanent Molars

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Once your child has permanent molars (around age six), we may suggest sealants to protect them from cavities. A sealant is a plastic coating applied to the chewing surface of molars to prevent food and germs from getting trapped.

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Addressing Crooked or Crowded Teeth

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During dental exams, we can determine if crooked or crowded teeth may cause problems. While many cases resolve as the jaw grows and other teeth come in, some may require orthodontic intervention.

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Malocclusion:

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If teeth do not straighten out, your child may have a bite problem, which can affect eating, cleaning, and appearance. We can suggest treatment options or refer your child to an orthodontist, a specialist with additional training in this area.

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Importance of Filling Baby Teeth

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If your child needs a filling in a baby tooth, it’s essential to address it even though the tooth will eventually fall out.

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• Long-term Presence: Some baby teeth remain until age 12.
  
• Health and Self-esteem: Infected or broken teeth can affect your child’s health and self-confidence.
• Preventing Further Decay: Fillings prevent decay from spreading deeper into the tooth, avoiding more painful and costly treatments later.

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Space Maintainers

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If a baby tooth is pulled due to decay, a space maintainer may be necessary to keep the space open for the permanent tooth. This prevents adjacent teeth from moving into the space and blocking the permanent tooth from coming in.

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Additional Information and Comfort

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For more information about your child’s oral health, please visit our Frequently Asked Dental Questions page or contact us directly.

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At our Lynn Valley office in North Vancouver, we love to see your children and make their dental visits enjoyable. Our kid-friendly waiting room is equipped with toys, TV, and a Nintendo Wii. Each dentist chair has an overhead TV with cartoons and channels to make your child’s dental experience as pleasant as possible.

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