Pediatric Dentistry, Setting Your Child Up for a Lifetime of Good Oral Habits
Congratulations on the arrival of your baby! But are you prepared to care for your son or daughter’s dental care? If you have no clue, you are in the right place. Our goal at Surrey Place Dental Group is to provide your young one with the highest dental care in a fun, family-like, and high-technology practice. We care for your children from 12-18 months through their teens and beyond.
Why dental care for kids matters
According to the Canadian Dental Association, you should take your baby to a dentist within six months after the first tooth erupts and no later than their first birthday. While the “baby teeth” will eventually fall out, it doesn’t mean that children’s dental care doesn’t matter. Like adults, children deserve the proper dental care to:
- Prevent gum disease: Poor oral health may lead to plaque accumulation, which attracts harmful bacteria that inflame gums and cause bleeding.
- Prevent tooth decay: Cavities are an ever-present menace for kids. While genetics and certain medical conditions may trigger cavities, poor oral hygiene doesn’t help the situation. When food particles are left on teeth, they attract harmful bacteria that produce acidic substances that erode the enamel.
- Avoid bad breath: Like adults, toddlers and children can have bad breath. Optimal dental care is effective in eliminating bad odour-causing bacteria.
Our child-friendly services
Looking for a dental practice with services tailored to meet your child’s oral care needs? Look no further than Surrey Place Dental Group. Our dentists and the team offer a rich menu of kid-friendly services, including:
- Dental exams to check the development of your child’s oral structures
- Dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar in “tight spots” in the mouth
- Gentle dental extraction services for severely decayed or damaged teeth
- Tailor-made education on taking proper care of your child’s dental health at home
- Dental sealants to protect decay-prone teeth
While you can take your child to a general dentist, finding one skilled in handling children is preferred. Pediatric dentists are better placed to manage oral health issues common in infants, teenagers, and anyone in between.
Save Your Smile From Within
Endodontic care at Surrey Place Dental Group focuses on removing infection inside the tooth, relieving discomfort, and helping you keep your natural smile intact. With timely treatment, you can restore both function and confidence without the need for extraction.
Watch the video to learn how endodontic care works and why it’s so important for your long-term dental health.
Endodontic care, or “Endo” as we often call it, is a specialized branch of dentistry. It’s all about treating the dental pulp or the nerve of the tooth. This includes procedures like root canals, which are usually needed when the dental pulp gets inflamed or infected. Here at Surrey Place Dental Group, we’re proud to offer top-quality endodontic care to our patients. It’s really important for keeping your teeth healthy. The dental pulp, which is right in the middle of your tooth, is full of nerves and blood vessels. If it gets infected because of things like deep decay, repeated dental work, bad crowns, or a crack or chip in the tooth, it can cause a lot of pain and even lead to abscesses. The goal of endodontic treatment is to save your natural teeth, so you don’t need to have them pulled and replaced with fake ones. Keeping your natural teeth means you can keep your natural smile and keep enjoying your favorite foods. Plus, it means you won’t need as much dental work in the future. What’s more, if infections in the dental pulp aren’t treated, they can lead to bigger health problems because the infection can spread to other parts of your body. So, endodontic care isn’t just important for your dental health, it’s important for your overall health too. We’re committed to providing the best endodontic care to people living in and around Surrey, White Rock, New West, Langley, Cloverdale, and Abbotsford. If you’re having severe tooth pain, if your teeth are really sensitive to hot or cold, or if your gums are swollen and tender, it might be a sign that you need endodontic care. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at (604) 585-4044 if you have any more questions or if you want to make an appointment. Our team is here to make sure your teeth are as healthy as they can be.
Fissure Sealants: A Simple Step Toward Long-Term Oral Health.
As a dentist working at Surrey Place Dental Group, I’ve personally seen the effectiveness of Fisher sealants in preventing cavities for our patients. Fissure sealants are a preventative dental procedure where we apply a thin, protective layer to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. This layer seals the small grooves and depressions, which we call pits and fissures, where food and bacteria can get stuck and cause tooth decay. In our practice, we’ve discovered that fissure sealants are especially helpful for our patients who have a higher risk of getting cavities. This includes kids and teenagers, who sometimes find it difficult to keep up with a good oral hygiene routine, and also adults who have deep pits and fissures in their teeth. The process is fast, doesn’t hurt, and is non-invasive, which makes it a popular choice among our patients. The sealants are put on in one visit and can last for several years before they need to be reapplied. Ever since we started offering this service, we’ve noticed a big drop in the number of cavities among our patients. In fact, research has shown that fissure sealants can lower the risk of decay in the treated teeth by up to 80%. This is a big improvement and shows how effective this preventative treatment is. What’s more, by stopping cavities, fissure sealants also help to prevent more serious dental problems in the future, like losing teeth and gum disease. This not only helps our patients’ oral health but also their overall health and well-being. To sum up, fissure sealants have been a great addition to the preventative dental services we offer at Surrey Place Dental Group. We’re happy to offer this service to our patients in Surrey, White Rock, New West, Langley, Cloverdale, and Abbotsford, and we encourage anyone who’s interested to give us a call at (604) 585-4044 to find out more.
How Modern Dental Technology Makes Fissure Sealants Better Than Ever
As a dentist at Surrey Place Dental Group, I’m thrilled to tell you about how the latest dental technology has made getting fissure sealants a much better experience for our patients. It’s now more efficient, comfortable, and effective. Fissure sealants are a preventive treatment we provide. It involves applying a thin, protective layer to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, which is often where tooth decay starts. These sealants are specifically designed to prevent cavities and tooth decay, especially in those tricky-to-reach spots. In the old days, applying fissure sealants could be a bit of a long process and sometimes not too comfortable for patients. But, thanks to the latest advancements in dental technology, the process is now much smoother and more patient-friendly. One big step forward is the use of top-quality dental materials. Today’s sealants are made from advanced resin-based materials that are not just more durable, but also more effective in sealing off the grooves and fissures on the tooth surface. This means the sealants last longer and offer better protection against decay. Another upgrade is in the application process itself. We now use cutting-edge light-curing technology to harden the sealant quickly, which makes the procedure faster and more comfortable for you. This technology also makes sure the sealant bonds more securely to your tooth, offering better protection. We also use digital imaging technology to keep an eye on your teeth both before and after the sealant application. This helps us make sure the sealant is working effectively and allows us to spot any potential issues early. And lastly, technology has also improved patient education. We can now use digital models and images to show you exactly where the sealants will be applied and how they’ll protect your teeth. This helps you understand the treatment better and makes you more comfortable with the process. At Surrey Place Dental Group, we’re dedicated to keeping up with the latest dental technologies and techniques to offer the best possible care for our patients. If you live in Surrey, White Rock, New West, Langley, Cloverdale, or Abbotsford, and you’re curious about fissure sealants or any of our other services, please feel free to give us a call at (604) 585-4044.
Fissure Sealants Explained: A Simple Way to Prevent Tooth Decay
As a dentist at Surrey Place Dental Group, I’m happy to help you understand what fissure sealants are and how they protect your teeth.
Fissure sealants are a type of preventive dental treatment. They involve applying a plastic coating to the chewing surfaces of your back teeth, specifically your molars and premolars. We focus on these teeth because they have ‘fissures’, or grooves, where food and bacteria can get trapped. This makes them difficult to clean and more prone to decay. Think of the sealant as a hard shield that prevents food and bacteria from entering the tiny grooves in your teeth. It’s like giving your teeth a raincoat to protect them from potential harm. Applying the sealant is a quick, pain-free, and non-invasive process. We start by cleaning the tooth and preparing it with a special solution. Then, we apply the sealant with a small brush and harden it using a special light. Fissure sealants are especially beneficial for children and teenagers. We often apply them as soon as the permanent teeth come in to protect them right from the start. But adults can benefit from them too, especially if their teeth have deep grooves or depressions. At Surrey Place Dental Group, we strongly recommend fissure sealants to our patients in Surrey, White Rock, New West, Langley, Cloverdale, and Abbotsford. They’re part of our comprehensive preventive dental care plan. Remember, it’s always better to prevent than to cure, and fissure sealants are a proven way to prevent tooth decay. If you have more questions or want to schedule an appointment, feel free to call us at (604) 585-4044. We always prioritize your oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions Children’s Dentistry
When should my child first visit the dentist?
Ideally, your child’s first dental appointment should happen by their first birthday or within six months of their first tooth. These early visits help ensure your child’s oral development is on track and allow our team of dentists to spot any early issues. It also helps your child become familiar with the sights, sounds, and routines of the dental office, setting the stage for a lifetime of comfortable, confident visits.
What happens during a child’s first dental check-up?
The initial visit is gentle, simple, and focused on making your child feel safe. Our team of dentists will do a visual exam to check teeth, gums, and bite alignment. If needed, a light cleaning may be done. You’ll also get helpful guidance on teething, brushing baby teeth, and tips for healthy eating. The goal is to introduce your child to dental care in a fun, supportive way that builds trust over time.
How often should kids go to the dentist?
Children should generally visit the dentist every six months for routine cleanings and exams. These regular check-ups help prevent cavities, track dental development, and build good oral hygiene habits. For kids who are cavity-prone or wearing orthodontic appliances, more frequent visits might be recommended. Our team of dentists will tailor your child’s schedule based on their unique needs and risk factors.
What are dental sealants, and do kids need them?
Sealants are a thin, plastic-like coating applied to the back molars to help prevent tooth decay. Even with good brushing, these teeth have deep grooves that can trap food and bacteria. Sealants create a smooth surface that’s easier to keep clean. They’re quick to apply, painless, and provide long-lasting protection—especially useful during the cavity-prone years. Our team of dentists often recommends them once a child’s permanent molars come in, typically around ages 6 and 12.
Why should I care for baby teeth if they’re going to fall out anyway?
Even though baby teeth are temporary, they play a big role in your child’s oral and overall health. Healthy baby teeth serve as spacers for adult teeth and aid in the development of speech and chewing. Their premature loss can impact the way permanent teeth erupt due to decay or trauma, which may result in problems with alignment. Keeping them clean and cavity-free sets the stage for a healthy adult smile.
How can I make dental visits less stressful for my child?
Start by using positive language when talking about the dentist. Avoid saying “it won’t hurt,” which can introduce fear. Reading books or watching kid-friendly videos about dental visits can also help. At Surrey Place Dental, Dr. Loewen and the team use a friendly, easygoing approach that keeps kids engaged and calm. We take the time to explain things clearly, celebrate small wins, and make the visit as fun as possible.
What should I do if my child has a dental emergency?
If your child chips a tooth, knocks one out, or is experiencing dental pain, call us right away. We’ll walk you through immediate steps and get you in quickly. For knocked-out permanent teeth, try to place the tooth back in the socket or keep it in milk and get to the office quickly. Our team of dentists provides prompt, compassionate care to help restore your child’s smile and comfort.
What if my child is nervous about visiting the dentist?
It’s normal for children to feel anxious about dental visits, especially if it’s their first time. At Surrey Place Dental, Dr. Loewen and his team use a gentle, friendly approach to help kids feel safe and relaxed. We explain each step in kid-friendly terms and even offer distractions or sedation options if needed for extra comfort.
Children’s dentistry you can trust
If you want to set your child up for a lifetime of good oral habits, please dial (604) 969-4212 to book an appointment with Surrey Place Dental Group in Surrey, BC.
