Dr. Gary Klein recommends that your child be seen for their first visit by the time they reach their 1st birthday. This is the policy of the Ontario Dental Association. At this point, they will already have many teeth in their mouth. This is the best time to introduce your child to the dental setting and make it a fun experience for them.
Preventative Dentistry
Prevention is very important as is creating good habits from the start. At their first appointment, Dr. Klein will discuss with the parents about dental care for their child as well as diet and nutrition do's and don'ts as they relate to good dental health. Finally, he will look into their mouth and count their teeth and confirm that everything in their mouth is normal for growth and development relative to their age.
With regular dental visits for your child, the SmileSolvers team will be able to avoid and reduce future dental procedures as well as keep costs down for parents.
Caring for Baby Teeth
Baby teeth serve many important functions. Kids need them for eating and for speaking. If there are cavities that cause sensitivity or pain, it will be more difficult to get the proper nutrition as children will avoid chewing because of the pain, or outright avoid certain foods. If so, your child’s growth and development may be impacted. Missing teeth in the front of the mouth will affect your child’s ability to speak and be understood. Kids do not want to stand out from the crowd; they want to have a full smile just like their friends.
Primary or baby teeth hold the space for when the adult teeth grow in. If the baby tooth has a cavity that is not properly filled, this can affect the space that is needed when the adult tooth is ready to erupt.
If the baby tooth is infected, you may see a pimple in the gum beside the baby tooth in question. This can pose a serious health risk to your child and should be followed up with Dr. Klein as soon as it is detected. If front teeth have been hit and have turned brown or discoloured, make sure that these teeth are assessed for infection as well.
Dental Emergency
As young children are very active, they do sometimes fall and hurt their teeth. It is important for your child to have a dental home at a young age so if there is a dental emergency they have a familiar and comfortable office to visit and get timely treatment. If your child has a dental emergency, call the SmileSolvers office immediately at 416-658-8885.
Dr. Klein and his amazing SmileSolvers team pride themselves on the care and attention they provide for the “kids” in their dental practice at St. Clair West and Dufferin. The visit is a high energy, fun visit that is short and always followed up with a prize. We look forward to seeing your kids’ smiles! Contact our office today to schedule an appointment for your child.