Preparing Children for the Dentist

At Bear Creek Dental in Grande Prairie, we offer many sedation techniques that are safe for children. However, it is always better when children are prepared psychologically for their visits, which is why we want to provide parents with guidance on preventing dental anxiety.

We would like for visiting the dentist to be such a normal part of a child’s life that they don’t ever worry about it. Cleanings should be done on a biannual basis from the time the first tooth begins to erupt. But it is still necessary to explain the purpose of the visits to the child, which is why it’s best to just say that our doctors are experts in keeping teeth healthy and cleaning them. Children pick up most of their attitude from their parents, so it’s better if they are accompanied by an adult who is sure of their own comfort. Things also tend to go better when siblings go together, and the younger one can watch the older one set a good example. Don’t overemphasize the need for bravery, as this creates an expectation of discomfort, and remember that cleaning, providing sealants, and possibly filling in cavities are usually the only services which require explanations. We’ll be able to give demonstrations with the chair and explain anything else that is necessary in terms your child will understand.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

From the moment a child’s first tooth emerges, preventive care is important. At Bear Creek Dental in Grande Prairie, we want all our patients to be set up for a lifetime of good oral health, which is why parents should beware of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay.

When babies drink milk or formula from bottles, sugary residue tends to accumulate on the fronts of their incisors. The phrase Baby Bottle Tooth Decay describes decay in this location. While many people understand that too much sugar is dangerous for teeth, they often don’t realize that it’s the amount of time teeth are exposed to sugar which is the main determining factor in whether decay will occur. Babies are dependent on others to brush their teeth for them, and if they aren’t given water to drink in between swigs from the milk bottle, it may be hours before the residue is washed away.

The risk of Baby Bottle Tooth Decay can be reduced by limiting children's time with a milk bottle and by supplying them with water. Children should transition to drinking from cups around the time of their first birthday and not be given more sugary drinks, such as juice, until then.

Bear Creek Dental is located at Unit 201 10015 102 Ave, Grande Prairie, Alberta, T8v 0z8, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 780-539-0404 or visit BearCreekDental.CA.