Babies, children and teens
Children's Dentistry in Guelph
Children's dentistry and kids dental care at York Road Dental in Guelph, with first visits from age 1. Open Saturdays. Direct billing and CDCP.
Book your child's visit online or call (519) 824-7333.
When Should a Child First See the Dentist?
A child should first see the dentist at about age 1. The Canadian Dental Association advises a first assessment within 6 months of the first tooth or by age 1, on its Your Child's First Visit page. York Road Dental is a children's dentist that welcomes babies from that first visit.
A baby first dental visit with a dentist for kids lets us check the first teeth, and a kids dentist can answer your questions and help your child get used to the clinic. We also see older children and teens.
A first visit is a get-to-know-us visit about getting comfortable. It can include:
A get-to-know-us visit with no pressure
A look at your child's first teeth and gums
Advice on cleaning baby teeth
Answers to your questions about habits
This first baby dental visit Guelph parents book is also a good time to ask about teething, pacifiers, thumb sucking and brushing. If your toddler is nervous, tell us when you book, so we can plan more time.
How Often Should Children Have Check-ups?
Most children come back for a check-up and cleaning every 4 to 6 months, and your dentist sets the interval that suits your child. Regular kids dental checkups find small problems early and keep cleanings quick.
A check-up includes a cleaning and a look at the teeth, gums and bite. Fluoride varnish can help strengthen enamel, and it matters here because the City of Guelph does not add fluoride to its drinking water. Ask your dentist whether it suits your child.
Read about sealants and fluoride and how a cleaning works, and bring the whole family on the same day if that helps.
X-rays are taken only when needed, and they are digital. School-age children and teens may need them more often than toddlers, because adult teeth are coming in, and your dentist explains why before taking any.
How Do You Treat and Prevent Cavities in Kids?
A child cavity is treated with a filling, and baby tooth decay is worth treating because baby teeth hold space for adult teeth. White fillings blend with the tooth, and stainless-steel crowns may be used on a badly decayed baby tooth, as your dentist advises. See children's fillings.
Prevention keeps most children away from fillings. These habits help prevent cavities in kids:
Brush twice a day with a little toothpaste
Help your child clean between teeth
Limit sweet drinks and sticky snacks
Keep check-ups every 4 to 6 months
Young children cannot brush well alone, so help them until they can tie their own shoes, and check the back teeth. Water between meals is kinder to teeth than juice, and bedtime bottles with milk or juice let sugar sit on baby teeth all night.
A child's toothache, swelling or a knocked tooth needs a call. We offer same-day emergency visits during all opening hours. See emergency dental care.
If your child has severe swelling, trouble breathing or bleeding that will not stop, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.
Sealants and Space Maintainers: What Are They?
A sealant is a thin resin coating on a back tooth that makes its grooves harder to trap food in, and a space maintainer is a small device that keeps room for an adult tooth when a baby tooth is lost early.
When do kids get sealants?
Sealants are often placed on permanent molars. Your dentist checks the teeth first.
What is a space maintainer?
A space maintainer holds the gap open after a baby tooth is lost too early, so neighbouring teeth do not drift into it. Without it, the adult tooth may come in crowded. Your dentist explains if your child needs one.
Is Special-Needs Care Available for Children?
Yes. York Road Dental provides care for children with special needs, and we see adults with special needs too. A special needs dentist in Guelph listens first, so we start with what your child needs and plan the visit around it.
For autistic patients, we adapt care and offer a get-to-know-us visit before treatment, so your child can meet the team and see the room.
Extra time, a calm pace and clear steps make the visit easier, and you tell us what helps. Autism friendly dentist Guelph parents often ask about the approach, and the way to see it is to book that first visit.
Tell us before the visit about your child's routines, sensitivities to sound or light, what calms them and what upsets them. We use that to plan the day, and we go at your child's pace.
What About Teens and Nervous Children?
We plan a calm, step-by-step visit for teens and nervous children. Our approach is the same for each: we explain what we are doing before we do it, and your child can raise a hand to stop at any time.
Teens may need sports mouth guards for hockey or soccer, and we make guards for patients who wear braces too. Aligners may follow as they grow. Wisdom teeth come later; see wisdom teeth removal. For a nervous child, ask about comfort measures, including numbing gel, breaks, music or TV, and blankets.
Parents can help a nervous child by staying calm, using plain words such as "counting teeth" and avoiding promises that nothing will hurt. We cannot promise a painless visit, but we can slow down and explain each step.
How Is Care for Children Paid For?
For payment, all major insurers can be direct-billed, and CDCP claims are billed directly to the plan. The Canadian Dental Care Plan has its own eligibility rules, so see CDCP and who may be eligible.
Co-payments and other charges may apply, so ask our team about costs before treatment. The Government of Canada describes the plan on its Canadian Dental Care Plan page.
Payment plans are in-house, and you can pay by cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard, American Express or e-transfer. We do not list prices on this page, so ask our team about the cost of your child's visit.
Questions About Kids' Dental Care
Which dentist sees children at York Road Dental?
Dr. Natasha Kaushal, a general dentist registered with the RCDSO since 8 June 2018, sees children at York Road Dental. We describe our care as children's dentistry and kids' dentistry, and we do not use the title of a specialty.
Is my child's first visit scary?
A first visit at York Road Dental is a get-to-know-us visit, short and calm, and your child can stay close to you. Tell us what worries your child.
Do you treat toddlers with anxiety?
Yes, York Road Dental plans extra time and explains each step for an anxious toddler. Tell us about your child's worries when you book.
Do you offer braces for kids and teens?
York Road Dental offers braces, metal or clear ceramic, and Invisalign and ClearCorrect aligners for teens and adults. Read about clear aligners.
Book Your Child's Visit in Guelph
Book your child's visit at York Road Dental and your online booking goes straight into our calendar.