Preventive care usually begins when the first tooth erupts and no later than age one.  The earlier the dental visit, the greater the chance that your child has a cavity-free childhood.

After evaluating your child’s dietary history,dental health and cavity risk, we will suggest a program of oral home care techniques, dietary guidance and fluoride use for your child. This will lay the foundation for good oral health.

Cleanings and fluoride treatments may also be a part of your child’s preventive program. Other preventive strategies may include sealants of primary and permanent teeth, fabrication of mouth-guards to prevent traumatic and sporting injuries to the teeth and surrounding tissues, as well as early diagnosis of future orthodontic needs.

It is recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Canadian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry that children have their first dental check-up no later than their first birthday.

This first dental visit at age one is a pivotal moment in your child’s dental care journey. It lays the foundation for lifelong oral health habits. This visit holds significant importance for several reasons.
Firstly, it affords us, the paediatric dentist, the opportunity to evaluate your child’s oral health comprehensively and detect any potential issues early on. This includes assessing your child’s susceptibility to cavities, tracking their growth and development, and screening for dental cavities and other oral health concerns.
Secondly, the age one visit serves as a prime occasion for us to educate you, the parent, on proper oral hygiene practices. We provide guidance on techniques for cleaning your child’s teeth and gums, offer nutritional advice, and discuss the role of fluoride and other preventive measures in maintaining oral health.
Lastly, this initial visit fosters a positive and comfortable rapport between your child and our team. Establishing a friendly and engaging relationship with the paediatric dentist and hygienist early on can help alleviate any apprehensions or anxieties your child may harbour about future dental visits.
In essence, the age one dental visit serves as a crucial stepping stone in promoting optimal oral health and ensuring a positive dental experience for your child in the years to come.

Dental radiographs at Danforth Children’s Dentistry are only taken after a thorough review of your child’s medical and dental history and after performing a careful visual examination.

Dental radiographs (e.g. X-rays) are required if the visual examination did not provide enough information to accurately diagnose decay or other dental conditions associated with your child’s teeth.

A child’s mouth develops more rapidly than an adult mouth and the baby teeth are far more susceptible to dental decay than adult teeth. It is for these reasons that children require radiographs more frequently than adults. Children at high cavity risk may require radiographs as often as every six months to detect dental decay. Children at low risk for dental decay may require X-rays as often.

At Danforth Children’s Dentistry, we are particularly concerned about the exposure of patients to radiation. We have appropriate safeguards such as lead aprons with thyroid collars and utilize a digital system for intra-oral radiography. Our digital radiographic system provides a reduction in radiation compared to conventional radiographs. You can be assured that your child is receiving only the necessary and minimal amount of radiation exposure if dental radiographs are required.

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) is a liquid made of silver, fluoride, and ammonia. SDF has been used for a long time in many parts of the world to stop tooth decay. It is now becoming popular in the United States and Canada as a gentle way to treat early cavities.

SDF is painted onto the cavity with a small brush or a spongy floss (e.g. Superfloss) for cavities in between the teeth. It sits on the tooth for at least one minute to get rid of the bacteria that cause the cavity and to make the remaining tooth stronger to stop the decay from spreading.
Your dentist might suggest using SDF if you have a cavity. It is great for kids who are nervous about getting dental work done or those with medical issues that make traditional treatments risky.
But there are a few things to know about SDF. It can turn the cavities on your teeth black, so it might not be suitable for every cavity. Also, while it can sometimes stop cavities from getting worse, it can’t fix the damage already done to your tooth. So, if you have larger cavities, you might still need fillings or crowns.
Overall, SDF can be a helpful tool for dentists to treat early cavities and keep decay from spreading, but it is not a solution for all cavities.

Nitrous oxide is a safe and effective way of providing dental treatment to your child.

We choose to work in a paediatric dental setting because we love children. We recognize each child is different and would like to customize the delivery of dental care according to their needs.

Some children may need more than a nurturing environment in order to feel comfortable during dental treatment. Nitrous oxide sedation is utilized at Danforth Children’s Dentistry to reduce fear and anxiety that your child may have about the appointment and thereby facilitate cooperation during dental treatment.

Nitrous oxide is also beneficial in pain management and works well for children whose gag reflex interferes with dental treatment.

Restorative care plays a vital role in paediatric dentistry, aiding in the repair and restoration of teeth affected by decay or injury. Within our paediatric dental practice, we offer an array of restorative treatments aimed at providing functionality to teeth compromised by trauma or the caries process. Among the services offered are zirconia ceramic (white) crowns, stainless steel (silver) crowns, and white fillings.

Zirconia (white) crowns are crafted from a tooth-colored ceramic material, whereas stainless steel crowns are fashioned from a durable metal alloy. Both types of crowns serve to rehabilitate decayed or damaged teeth and restore the natural tooth structure. Engineered to withstand the demands of daily use, these crowns ensure lasting durability in your child’s mouth.
White fillings, also known as composite resin fillings, are utilized for repairing small to medium-sized cavities. The filling material is meticulously applied to the prepared tooth area after cavity removal and contoured to harmonize with the natural tooth contours. Ideal for children seeking both functional restoration and aesthetic preservation, white fillings maintain the function and appearance of their original teeth.
Within our paediatric dental clinic, our unwavering dedication lies in delivering top-tier restorative care to our young patients. We recognize the significance of fostering healthy dental habits and assisting children in cultivating oral hygiene practices that will endure a lifetime.

Oral sedation with nitrous oxide is a technique to direct a child’s behaviour during dental treatment.

Medications are utilized in conjunction with nitrous oxide to alleviate anxiety or distress associated with dental procedures. This treatment modality may allow children to become less anxious or drowsy but does not render them unconscious.

This form of treatment is usually indicated when a child is extremely apprehensive or requires extensive dental treatment. We will take the necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of your child during dental procedures. A medication combined with nitrous oxide may facilitate this as well as promote a child’s acceptance of dental treatment.

General anaesthesia is a medical procedure that induces a deep sleep-like state in your child, facilitating medical interventions without pain or discomfort. Typically, it is recommended for cases necessitating extensive treatment, for children exhibiting extreme fear or anxiety, and for those with special health care needs.

The primary advantage of general anaesthesia is that your child will be asleep throughout the dental procedure and will have no memory of the procedure. Moreover, all required treatments can be efficiently administered within a single appointment.
At Danforth Children’s Dentistry, we offer general anaesthesia services within our office and at Michael Garron Hospital. Our team of medical anaesthesiologists maintains staff affiliations with Michael Garron Hospital and upholds the highest standards of care for children undergoing surgical procedures.
The anaesthesia team at Michael Garron Hospital is affiliated with the University of Toronto and actively participates in the education and training of future anaesthesiologists through the University of Toronto residency program. Additionally, they contribute to the education of medical students, dentists specializing in anaesthesia/sedation, and emergency room physicians.

A baby tooth is supposed to be in a child’s mouth until its adult tooth replaces it.

Sometimes a child may lose a tooth too soon due to trauma or dental disease.  If a tooth is lost too early, a space maintainer may be recommended to prevent space loss and thereby minimize future orthodontic problems.

Space maintainers hold the space left by the lost tooth. It stabilizes the surrounding teeth and prevents the adjacent teeth from drifting into the space of the lost tooth.

We understand that children with special health care needs are unique. We have experience in providing individualized dental care to these patients.

Children with special health care needs (SHCN) may be more susceptible to oral disease due to their condition and require oral health care of a specialized nature. We have experience in providing dental care to patients with SHCN such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. A child with SHCN can also include patients with Amelogenesis Imperfecta, Dentinogenesis Imperfecta and oral cancer.

Children with SHCN should keep healthy teeth and gums since it is an integral part of their general health and well-being. We are dedicated to providing the best dental care to this special population.