What age do you start seeing children?

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry along with the Canadian Academy of Pediatrics recommend a dental visit by the time the child has their first tooth or by their first birthday.  

Why do you recommend seeing children at such a young age?

We use a simple equation to answer this question:  1 + 1 = 0.

ONE baby tooth + ONE pediatric dental visit = ZERO cavities

Cavities are the #1 most common infectious disease of children and the #1 reason for school absences.  At Safari, we are firm advocates of preventing cavities, not just treating them.  We understand and want to teach parents that tooth decay is the #1 most preventable disease for children.

Is there a difference between a family dentist and a pediatric dentist?

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry.  We are specially trained for children's unique oral health needs.  We have two years of additional specialized professional education after dental school emphasizing child psychology, growth and development, and special health care needs.

We understand that infants, preschoolers, children and adolescents require different approaches to manage their behaviour, guide their dental growth and development, and emphasize prevention to make sure they grow into great dental patients.

Our biggest thrill as pediatric dentists is taking children that are scared of dentists and getting them to love coming to the dentist.  We have chosen our specialty because we love children and wanted to dedicate our careers to the care of children.  We want all dental visits to be fun because children need a positive attitude toward caring for their teeth that can last a lifetime.

Make an appointment with us and you will find that we offer a kinder, gentler, fun approach to dentistry.  Remember, its not for everyone, Its just for kids!

Why are baby teeth so important?

Check out the answer in our parents corner by clicking here

What can I expect at my first visit?

The first dental visit is mostly educational.    This well baby check for teeth ensures that parents learn the tools necessary to keep their children cavity-free. 

My child may be nervous. How can you help?

Each child responds in his/her own way to a dental visit.  As healthcare specialists for children, we are used to this and stand ready with a variety of methods to help an individual child feel comfortable with dental treatment.  Our main goals of behaviour guidance include:

(a) Establishing Communication with your child:

At Safari, we accomplish this by using age-appropriate language that your child understands.  For example, children are often scared the first time they see the saliva ejector but when we call it "Mr.Thirsty" or the "Silly Straw", they usually become more receptive.

(b) Alleviating fear and anxiety:

Our office is ONLY for children staffed by people who have dedicated their careers to kids.  By seeing other children receive treatment, kids sometimes feel more comfortable when its their turn.  Our office is also built with an extremely child-friendly atmosphere filled with decorations, video games, prizes and stickers.  Your child can also watch their favourite cartoons while getting their cleaning or treatment done.  How cool is that! All of these things help in making what was once a fearful appointment into a fun experience!

(c) Getting the child involved in their visit:

At Safari, we feel that if children are involved during the appointment, they become less anxious and more excited.  Therefore, we highly encourage giving the child some control over their visit.  Whether its choosing which cartoon they want to watch or choosing the flavour of toothpaste from our toothpaste menu or choosing their favourite sticker from our famous sticker wall or choosing their favourite character toothbrush to go home with, we want the child leaving our office with a feeling that the dentist is a fun place to visit!

(d) Building a trusting relationship with your child:

A simple concept!  We begin by taking the time to explain the treatment to your child with language that they understand. We then show them all the equipment and materials we use. And then, we finish by doing exactly what we said we were going to do.  All of these things allow your child to build trust in their doctor.  Many times, children are simply fearful because of the unknown.  We offer no surprises to your child because we want them to keep on returning as a good dental patient for the rest of their life!

(e) Being Positive!

We are firm believers of positive reinforcement.  Even if you feel your child did not cooperate during their appointment, there is always something positive that comes out of each visit.  We make sure that we always approach the child in a positive manner and no matter what, each child will always leave our office with a prize.

The most important behaviour guidance technique is early and regular dental visits.  The earlier and more frequent a child is exposed to the dental environment and can establish a relationship with the staff, the more likely your child will LOVE the dentist.  What can we say, we love kids!!!

Make an appointment today!

My child has already seen a dentist and it didnt go well. What can you do differently?

Sometimes, when a child enters an office completely dedicated for children, it changes their perception of the dental visit.  Seeing other kids being treated in our open clinic concept alleviates fears that the child may have.  By being able to watch cartoons during treatment or explaining the procedure in language that they understand, a previously traumatized child can become the best dental patient.

As pediatric dentists, we are the experts in children and we are very patient in trying to have your child cooperate.

However, we understand that every child is unique and sometimes further behaviour guidance techniques are needed.  At Safari, we provide the following services:

• Tell-Show-Do

• Positive Reinforcement

• Distraction

• Modeling

• Local Anesthetics

• Nitrous Oxide/Oxygen (Laughing Gas)

• Oral Sedation

• General Anesthesia at an outpatient surgical center

You can and should be a partner in selecting which technique works best for your child.  Make an appointment to discuss the pros and cons of each option in detail and to discuss together with the doctor which is the best approach to make your child's dental treatment as safe and comfortable as possible.

Can I stay with my child during their visit?

Of course!  Parents have the right to information and to fully understand and know exactly what treatment your child will receive.   Furthermore, parents have the right of choice so you can support or deny any treatment approach suggested.  This is called informed consent and we are firm believers of it.
 

We actually encourage parents to be with their child at all times because your child's oral health is a team effort consisting of the pediatric dentist, the parent and the child.  Sometimes children need a bit of physical reassurance by something as simple as holding your hand during treatment.
 

A well-informed parent should know the choices available to relieve the anxiety of the child during dental treatment.
 

We strive to work together to ensure your child receives the best and most

positive dental experience.  We hope you make an appointment with us so we can be part of your family's team!

How often should my child see the dentist?

The Canadian Academy of Pediatric dentistry recommends that a child visit the dentist every 6-9 months for a cleaning and an exam.  The main purpose is not only  to familiarize your child with the dental environment but to detect problems early one which then become easier to deal with. For instance, if a cavity is small and caught early, it can usually be fixed very quickly without any discomfort and usually without the need of anesthetics. It can then be restored with a tooth-coloured filling.

Remember, the most important behaviour guidance technique is early and regular dental visits.  The earlier and more frequent a child is exposed to the dental environment and can establish a relationship with the staff and doctor, the more likely your child will LOVE the dentist.  

Make an appointment today!

Do you see patients with special needs?

Of course!  Pediatric dentists are the dental professionals of choice for children with special needs.  Our specialized training focuses on care for all children with physical, developmental, cognitive, sensory, behavioral or emotional problems.  

Check out our section on Special Needs in our Parents Corner

We have a dental emergency, what should we do?

Don't worry!  We have someone available for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Give our office a call at 905-331-3031 and we will address the issue immediately. You can also check out our section on dental emergencies for further information.

Are dental xrays safe? What about the radiation exposure?

There is very little risk in dental x-rays, which we use as an essential diagnostic tool. Dental x-rays are vital for identifying cavities and erupting teeth as well as for diagnosing the effects of trauma and planning orthodontic treatment.

 
We are proud to say that we strictly follow the xray guidelines set out by the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.  In order to reduce exposure, we use minimum radiation dosages, protective lead aprons with thyroid collars and modern xray equipment.

Learn more in our xray section of Parents Corner.

Why are dental xrays needed?

Find the answer in the xray section of our Parent's Corner.

Do your products contain bisphenol-A (BPA) byproducts?

No.  We confirm with the manufacturers that none of our materials ever contain BPA.  We only choose materials of the highest quality and materials that have significant amount of research behind their efficacy.

Do you use Silver Mercury Fillings?

No.  Our practice is 100% Mercury free.  We utilize tooth colored filling made from durable plastics called composite resins.  We are proud to say that all of our materials are of the highest quality and contain no BPA.

What insurances do you accept?

We currently accept all private Canadian dental insurance plans.  Please make sure you bring all necessary insurance documentation to your child's first visit. If insurance details change, please ensure that our system is updated with your new information.

Do you accept assignment?

We understand life is tough and being a parent is the toughest job out there. Therefore, we want to make your dental experience as smooth and easy as possible.  At Safari children's dentistry, we take the headaches out of dealing with insurance companies by filing your claims on your behalf.  If your insurance does not cover 100% of the services rendered and co-payments are required, we request that these co-payments be made before the appointment.

What method of payment do you accept?

We currently accept all major forms of payment including Visa, Mastercard, Interac Debit, and Cash

What if I need to reschedule my appointment?

Dont worry!  We understand that sometimes life gets in the way and unexpected things come up.  Please give us a call at 905-331-3031 and we will gladly reschedule your child's appointment.  We kindly request at least 24 hours notice for any cancellations.