Trusted & Experienced Children's Dentist in Regina, SK
Children's Dentistry Regina
Parents trust us and children love us! Southland Dental Clinic of Regina is a family clinic dedicated to your special needs. Dr. Rusteika welcomes you to our kid-friendly office. It’s the little things that make a visit to the dentist that much more enjoyable for you and your kids.
Early childhood dental care is essential for the development of strong and healthy teeth. As well as, the foundation for a lifetime of proper oral hygiene. Children who learn to care for their teeth are more likely to practice good hygiene habits later in life. This pays off with fewer dental problems (and costs!).
Research shows there are several habits during the first two years of a child’s life that increase their risk for developing tooth decay. Risk factors include:
- Improper brushing habits
- Poor food choices
- An unbalanced diet
Developing cavities in primary teeth further increases the risk of developing them in permanent teeth. Therefore, we recommend you bring in your child for their first children’s dental visit as early as one year of age.
Children's First Dental Visit
Our dentists begin seeing patients at age 6 months & up. The initial dental visit is intended to give the parent information on growth and development, prevention tips for tooth decay and become comfortable with our doctors and staff. Building trust early on will help keep your child at ease for future dental visits.
Southland Dental Clinic of Regina
2905 Gordon Rd, Regina, SK S4S 6H7
Monday: 7:30am-4pm
Tuesday: 7:30am-4pm
Wednesday: 7:30am-4pm
Thursday: 7:30am-4pm
We Make Your Child’s First Trip to the Dentist a Happy Experience
Our dental team utilizes this first appointment as an orientation visit to get kid’s comfortable about going to the dentist. During this time:
- Your child will get a tour of the office.
- They will meet and become accustomed to the hygienist and dentist.
- We will spend time discussing your child’s oral health and address any concerns or questions you may have regarding dentistry for kids. For instance, how to care for your child’s mouth, teething development milestones, as well as the link between diet and oral health.
Children Dentistry Services
We offer a wide range of children’s dental care services for our young patients. These include:
- Regular check ups: Regular dental checkups determine the health of your child’s mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue. At each visit, we look for issues such as cavities, tooth decay or fillings that may need to be replaced. As a result, we provide you with an ongoing assessment of your child’s oral health. In general, we suggest a dental check up at least twice a year for most children. Schedule may vary depending on each child’s growth pattern, risk for tooth decay, and oral hygiene.
- Dental cleanings: Our children’s dental care services include dental cleanings. We use gentle cleaning techniques to polish your child’s teeth and remove any plaque, tartar buildup or stains. Helping kids maintain a bright and healthy smile.
- Home-care instruction and nutritional advice: Our dedicated dental team strives to promote a positive dental attitude in young patients. First of all, we create a supportive and pleasant environment to foster your child’s lifelong dental health. Secondly, we always take the time to discuss the best oral practices with your child using kid-friendly communication methods. We provide home-care instruction and nutritional advice through explanation, demonstration and careful teaching. We promise, we never lecture! Humor, patience and a great sense of fun are our greatest tools.
It is our mission to offer your family the best dental care for kids possible. If treatment requires, we may have to refer you to a pediatric dentist.
WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU!
New patients are always welcome! Let's discuss your dental health together.
Benefits of Dental Care for Kids
The most important aspect of oral hygiene for children is to take care of your child’s teeth from the first months of their life. If their milk teeth are healthy, there is a bigger chance for stronger, healthier permanent teeth. The following are just some of the many benefits of investing in your child’s oral health.
Establishing Important Habits
Even though a child’s primary teeth will be replaced by permanent ones, parents should still begin teaching their child good dental habits from a young age. A child who learns how to care for his/her teeth early in life will be more likely to practice good oral hygiene later on in life, resulting in fewer dental problems down the road.
Disease Prevention
This is one of the most important aspects of dental care for children. Oral issues such as dental cavities can expose a child’s body to a host of other germs. When inhaled through the mouth, such germs can enter the bloodstream directly via sores in the mouth. By practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist regularly, your child’s mouth will be healthier, protecting him or her from other physical ailments
Pain Reduction
Dental caries are a common health problem for many children. Such cavities can make eating difficult or even make it hard for your child to concentrate in school and enjoying their activities. However, through proper toothbrushing and flossing techniques and seeing the dentist at regular intervals, the incidence of cavities in your child will be reduced, preventing many sources of dental pain.
Saves Money Over Time
Corrective surgery is extremely expensive which is why, at Macleod Trail Dental, our dentists’ take a preventative approach to your child’s dental health. Preventing oral issues through brushing, flossing and regular dentist visits will be far less costly than having to deal with caries, gum disease and the tooth loss that come from poor dental practices.
Remember, your child is always watching you! Parents with good oral habits set an example for children to follow. As soon as your baby is born you should begin caring for his/her gums and emerging teeth. It only takes a few minutes a day but it will lead to a lifetime of happy, healthy smiles.
Children’s Dentistry
At Southland Dental Clinic of Regina, our team is privileged to be treating second and third generation family members. We believe that quality service is accomplished through conservative dental practices. As well as, through the development of long-lasting relationships with our patients. As such, we are constantly aspiring to provide you and your children with the treatment options you require, all within a warm and caring environment.
For more information regarding Children’s Dentistry , or if you have any questions/concerns about your child’s oral health, please feel free to give us a call anytime at (306) 352-6188.
WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU!
New patients are always welcome! Let's discuss your dental health together.
Frequently Asked Questions:
We recommend that you make an appointment to see the dentist as soon as your child gets his first tooth. The Canada Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that a child is seen by six months after his/her first tooth erupts or by one year old, whichever is first.
The first visit is usually short and simple. In most cases, we focus on getting to know your child and giving you some basic information about dental care.
The doctor will check your child’s teeth for placement and health, and look for any potential problems with the gums and jaw.
If necessary, we may do a bit of cleaning. We will also answer any questions you have about how to care for your child’s teeth as they develop, and provide you with materials containing helpful tips that you can refer to at home.
The best preparation for your child’s first visit to our office is maintaining a positive attitude. Children pick up on adults’ apprehensions and if you make negative comments about trips to the dentist, you can be sure that your child will fear an unpleasant experience and act accordingly. Show your child the pictures of the office and staff on the website.
Let your child know that it’s important to keep his teeth and gums healthy, and that the doctor will help him do that.
Remember that your dentist is specially trained to handle fears and anxiety, and our staff excels at putting children at ease during treatment.
We generally recommend scheduling checkups every six months. Depending on the circumstances of your child’s oral health, we may recommend more frequent visits.
Even before your baby’s first tooth appears, we recommend you clean his gums after feedings with a damp, soft washcloth. As soon as his first tooth appears, you can start using a toothbrush. Choose a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. You can most likely find a toothbrush designed for infants at your local drugstore.
Once your child has a few teeth, you can start using toothpaste on the brush. Use only a tiny amount for each cleaning, and be sure to choose toothpaste without fluoride for children under two, as too much fluoride can be dangerous for very young children. Always have your child rinse and spit out toothpaste after brushing, to begin a lifelong habit he’ll need when he graduates to fluoride toothpaste. Children naturally want to swallow toothpaste after brushing, and swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste can cause teeth to stain. You should brush your child’s teeth for him until he is ready to take on that responsibility himself, which usually happens by age six or seven.
Certain types of bacteria live in our mouths. When these bacteria come into contact with sugary foods left behind on our teeth after eating, acids are produced. These acids attack the enamel on the exterior of the teeth, eventually eating through the enamel and creating holes in the teeth, which we call cavities.
Be sure that your child brushes his teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Flossing daily is also important, as flossing can reach spots between the teeth that brushing can’t. Check with your pediatric dentist about a fluoride supplement which helps tooth enamel be harder and more resistant to decay. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, limit snacking, and maintain a healthy diet. And finally, make regular appointments so that we can check the health of your child’s teeth and provide professional cleanings.
Sealants cover the pits and fissures in teeth that are difficult to brush and therefore susceptible to decay. We recommend sealants as a safe, simple way to help your child avoid cavities, especially for molars, which are hardest to reach.
Even children’s sports involve contact, and we recommend mouthguards for children active in sports. If your little one plays baseball, soccer, or other sports, ask us about having a custom-fitted mouthguard made to protect his teeth, lips, cheeks, and gums.
We recommend taking X-rays around the age of two or three. The first set consists of simple pictures of the front upper and lower teeth, which familiarizes your child with the process. Once the baby teeth in back are touching each other, then regular (at least yearly) X-rays are recommended. Permanent teeth start coming in around age six, and X-rays help us make sure your child’s teeth and jaw are healthy and properly aligned. If your child is at a high risk of dental problems, we may suggest having X-rays taken at an earlier age.
Table of Contents