If we can have an open dialogue with the parents, we will be able to educate parents and children as they mature. From time to time we may wish to introduce one or several factors to enhance tooth health - for example sealants or fluoride supplements. Other times, the parents may be asked to change the child’s dietary or oral behavior - for example, reducing sugar in the child’s diet, removing an intraoral piercing, or even transitioning the child from sippy cups to adult-sized drinking glasses.

Finally, dental X-rays are often the only way to identify tiny cavities in primary (baby) teeth. Though the child may not be feeling any pain, left unchecked, these tiny cavities can rapidly turn into large cavities, tooth decay, and eventually, childhood periodontal disease.

Pediatric Dentistry

We, at Greystone Dental Clinic, encourage parents to bring their children to visit us twice a year starting at the age of 1. This would allow us to monitor the development of the jaws and eruption of the teeth. Good oral hygiene strategies, dietary considerations, and detrimental oral habits will be some of the topics discussed to ensure that the primary teeth remain healthy. Many of the issues that patients face as adults have their origins in these critical early years.

Our primary goal is to provide a “good dental home” for the child. If a dental emergency does arise, parents can bring the child for treatment at a familiar, comfortable location.

We strive to keep meticulous records of the child’s ongoing dental health and jaw development. In general, painful dental conditions do not arise overnight. If the child’s dental health history is easily traced, it becomes easier to anticipate future issues and intervene before they arise.