Victoria Family Dental

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Pediatric

Kids Dentist in Kitchener
Victoria Family Dental welcomes kids of all ages from Kitchener, Waterloo, Breslau, Cambridge, and surrounding areas.
We believe prevention should be the primary focus for all children and that starts with proper oral hygiene and education. Visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a struggle or grueling experience.

Did you know your child mirrors you? If you are afraid of the dentist or use words that
trigger fear or panic, it will indirectly affect how your child sees the dentist. If you have
experienced a toothache or dental pain before it’s important not to pass off your negative experiences or pain to your child. Saying a toothache gives you “excruciating pain,” or “they will have to give you a needle,” to your child may give an indirect negative association
with the dentist.

What should I do before my dentist appointment?
Tell them the dentist is going to check their teeth checked, and before bringing them in you can do a mock exam on yourself or a relative/friend first, and then do it on them. Doing tell-show-do, shows them what is going to happen and doing it on them afterwards shows them what to expect.
What age should I bring my child to the dentist?
The child’s first appointment is the most important, and we don’t want it to be one where dental treatment is required. We recommend children visit the dentist by age one, even if they do not have teeth yet. A cursory exam can catch any immediate concerns, and we can help guide the parents on the best practices to care for the child’s teeth.
If a child’s first visit is when they are in pain and requiring more urgent treatment, then they will associate their pain with the dental office. This creates a very negative impression of the dentist with the child and can make them fearful of visiting the dentist in the future, and lead to life-long dental phobia.
We cannot stress the importance of getting children comfortable and used to seeing the dental team during simple routine appointments. This will set up a positive association and reduce dental phobia.
How often should I bring my child in?
This depends on your child’s oral hygiene, dietary habits, and caries risk index. It could be weekly appointments or six-month hygiene interval maintenance.
Our goal is to improve all our patients’ oral hygiene, educate the importance of dietary choices, and thereby reduce the risk of caries. It is easier to develop proper habits at an early age and carry those habits throughout a child’s adult life than to try to change the habits of an adult.
Is fluoride in toothpaste okay?
Yes, it is okay. First, you should use a toothpaste that is suitable for your child’s age. Children’s toothpaste will have no fluoride or a lower amount of fluoride compared to adult toothpaste. It is important to use the right amount of toothpaste. A small rice grain size of toothpaste is sufficient for brushing a child’s teeth. If they accidentally ingest some of the toothpaste, it is usually safe because the fluoride concentration is lower and because there is not enough toothpaste (when a small rice grain size is used) to cause harm.
If your child accidentally gets a hold of the tube of toothpaste and swallows a significant amount, then that could lead to dental fluorosis. If you believe your child has swallowed toothpaste, it is important to call poison control immediately.
Is fluoride in drinking water safe?
Fluoride may occur naturally or be added into the local drinking water. The purpose of fluoride in water is to strengthen the tooth’s enamel. A strong enamel layer protects teeth against cavities, acid erosion, and abrasion. Fluoride can also reverse early signs of decay.
Some people are concern fluoride will lead to:
  • Dental fluorosis
  • Skeletal fluorosis
  • Neurotoxicity leading to neurodevelopment and cognitive effects
  • Toxicity
  • Gastrointestinal irritation
In high levels, these risks are real. Fluoride concentration in drinking water is regularly to ensure it is at a safe level. At low levels there is a benefit to the public with minimal risks.
Are x-rays safe for children?
There is some radiation from x-rays when taking radiographs. In a dental setting, the amount used is as low as possible and carefully controlled. A single dental x-ray exposure is about 0.005 mSv (millisieverts) of radiation. We can compare that radiation to:
  • Dental Panoramic radiograph: 0.025 mSv
  • Chest radiograph: 0.1 mSv
  • Mammography: 0.28 mSv
  • Normal Daily Environment: 6 to 10 μSv
  • Average flight: 0.035 mSv
From that comparison, dental radiation exposure is very low. One mammograph is 56x the radiation exposure of a single digital radiograph. When we compare the risk to the benefits, we can see that the radiation does is low enough that it is safe and beneficial when we use radiographs to diagnose cavities. Untreated cavities can lead to toothaches and eventually the loss of the tooth.
If we can avoid it, such as during pregnancy, then we wait until the child is born before taking routine radiographs. If a radiograph is necessary, such as when there is pain, then it is best to take it during the second trimester.
Additional precautions can be taken, such as using a lead apron over the body, having lead-lined walls. These measures can further reduce the exposure risk and scatter radiation. It is always our goal to take good care of our patients.