Best Children’s Dentist in Grande Prairie, AB

Higson Dental Group in Grande Prairie can’t wait to meet your smiling little ones! We encourage a “very” first visit sometime after your kid’s third birthday. Our goal is to introduce your child to our practice and make them feel comfortable with our Grande Prairie dentist and their team.

Pediatric Dental Care: Your Child’s First Dental Visit

Your child will get to take a ride in the dentist chair, while wearing super-cool sunglasses!

Although we will do a gentle examination and address any concerns you have, most of our time will be spent showing your child some of the neat things we have in the office. This will include a ride in the dentist’s chair, wearing super cool sunglasses, and a fun little prize at the end of their visit.

In some special cases, and if the age and cooperation permits, we may take x-rays to reveal any suspected decay or assess the permanent teeth under the gums. Other dental services we may provide during your child’s visit also include teeth cleaning and using some topical fluoride to help protect against decay. But mostly, we will ask about your child’s oral hygiene habits and help teach them how to clean and take care of their teeth. Schedule a dental clinic appointment with children’s dentist Dr. Dean Higson today!

What to Tell Your Child About Their First Dentist Visit

You know your child better than anyone. How you prep them for their visit really depends on how you want them to experience and understand this and future appointments. Our goal is that your child not only feels comfortable coming to our dental practice, but that they actually look forward to it! Many of our young patients are upset when they come to the office with a sibling and find out they don’t have an appointment.

Tips to Prepare for the Inaugural Visit:

• 

  We want your child’s dentist appointments to be positive and fun.

  Read books about the dentist.

• Explain what our team will do: “Look at your teeth to see how you brush!”
• Tell positive and enjoyable experiences you’ve had at the dentist.

What Will Happen During Their Visit:

• Get your kid acquainted with the office space.
• Examine your kid’s mouth, teeth, and gums.
• Discuss any adverse habits like finger and thumb sucking.
• Teach you about cleaning your kid’s teeth and gums.
• Schedule regular check-ups.

Preventative Dental Care

We want your child to enjoy keeping their teeth healthy and clean!

There are many advances in dental care that can really help protect your kid’s teeth, giving them a wonderful smile. As a children’s dentist, we use the latest in dental sealant technology; a restoration that bonds to the chewing surfaces and helps prevent cavities and tooth decay. We also discuss proper brushing and flossing techniques, so kids learn to make this part of their daily oral hygiene practice. All these things can help build a solid foundation for a lifetime of healthy teeth.

Cavity Prevention

One of the main reasons kids get cavities is from a high intake of sugar and a lack of brushing. Limiting sugar in their diet, and daily brushing and flossing, will help prevent tooth decay, according to pediatric dentists.

Having food in the mouth for a longer period of time can also contribute to the problem. While eating, an acid reaction occurs in their mouth as bacteria begin to digest carbohydrates. This can last approximately 20 minutes, long enough for the acid environment to invade a tooth structure and lead to cavities.

Saliva also plays a role in the process. When saliva is thin, it breaks up and carries food away quickly. Carbs and sugars can create thicker saliva, which moves slower and creates acid-producing bacteria that leads to cavities.

Here are some tips to keep your child’s smile looking great!

Tips to Prevent Tooth Decay:

• Lower the frequency of meals and snacks.
• Routine brushing, flossing, and rinsing.
• Limit sugary drinks, and increase water intake.
• Limiting sticky foods and candy.
• Make treats part of meals.
• Nutritious snacks low in carbohydrates.

The Role of Baby Teeth

Baby’s teeth start to appear from around four to eight months of age. The two bottom teeth are usually the first to appear, followed by the upper four front teeth, and then the remainder will appear periodically until around the child is about 2 ½ years old.

At this time, your child may have 20 baby teeth, which will do all the work until the ages of five and six when the permanent teeth start erupting. With this in mind, all children are different and may experience the eruption of new teeth at varying months or ages—it’s more important that the proper sequence takes place than the age it occurs.

While baby teeth exist for a short amount of time in a child’s lifespan, they have a very important function. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth, manage bite, and help with chewing, speech, and appearance. It’s imperative that you give these teeth care and attention, visit a pediatric dentist regularly, and start the preventative routines of a healthy diet, brushing, and flossing at a very young age.

What Parents Need to Know About Children’s Dentistry

Our lobby has toys, a TV, and a fireplace to make it feel less like a dentist’s office and more like an inviting living room.

Every parent considers their child’s dental health and happiness their utmost priority, and yet many parents remain unaware of the best way to approach child dentistry for optimal results. From determining the right time to bring a child to their first dentist appointment to preventing cavities at home or what to do if a child has a dental emergency, there is much that parents need to learn to promote their child’s good dental health at the outset.

To help families get started with pediatric dentistry, we have created the following guide on common concerns parents have regarding dentistry for children.

When Should My Child First See a Pediatric Dentist?

A child should see a children’s dentist for the first time once their first tooth erupts, between 6 months and 1 year of age. This allows the dentist to evaluate the child’s tooth and jaw development thus far, as well as determine the risk of cavities. It also gives new parents the opportunity to learn about proper infant and kids dental care, the risks of thumb sucking, dental milestones, and much more.

How Often Should My Child See the Dentist?

Although the general recommendation is for children to have a dental checkup every 6 months, the frequency of these visits will greatly depend upon every child’s individual needs. The goal of each checkup is to continue monitoring your child’s tooth development and gum health and to detect problems as early as possible.

How Should I Clean My Child’s Teeth?

A small, soft-bristled brush is ideal for young children. Use a pea-sized amount of non-fluoridated toothpaste until your child can spit it out on their own (around age 3), then transfer to fluoride toothpaste. Furthermore, start teaching good oral health habits early on by brushing your child’s teeth twice a day.

Schedule an appointment at our children’s dental office in Grand Prairie, AB

How Do I Prevent My Child from Getting Cavities?

The easiest way to prevent cavities is to ensure that your child eats a balanced diet from all 4 food groups. It is also important to control their intake of sugars and starches, including beverages – certain fruit juices, too! If you are still unsure of the right approach, ask the dentist for dietary recommendations, especially for your child.

Contact a Children’s Dentist Today!

As a dedicated provider of pediatric dentistry to Grande Prairie-area residents, the Higson Dental Group team looks forward to guiding parents through providing the highest quality care for their children’s teeth. Make a dental appointment for your child! If you are in the Grimshaw area and are in need of a pediatric dentist near you, contact our office. Additionally, our dedicated team of professionals is proud to offer children’s dental care for your little ones in a friendly and welcoming environment, near Royal Oaks, Alberta. 

What Our Clients Have to Say

“We love Higson. Our son had a rough appointment today and I wasn’t sure how to best thank them for the work they did. I figured this was the best way. The staff are super friendly, caring, very good at their jobs and the dentists are amazing. It is never easy to see your child in pain (a necessary evil of dentistry sometimes), but when you see the staff in the same state as they work on your kids, you know they really do treat you as family. Thank you Higson for the great work you do.”
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heather Viel
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