Services
Dentistry for Infants, Kids and Adolescents
Dental care for infants, kids, and some adolescents
Dental care for those up to 18-years-old with special healthcare needs
Individualized approach for patients with Autism including desensitization
Infant exams
Recare visits (check-ups, cleaning, necessary x-rays, fluoride)
Silver diamine fluoride
Restorative care including fillings and crowns
Extractions
Space maintainers (spacers)
Emergency and dental trauma care
Minimal sedation with nitrous oxide (laughing gas)
General anesthesia (dentistry asleep) when necessary
The cost of dentistry depends on how extensive your child’s treatment is. Many insurance plans reimburse the majority of costs. Pre-determinations and estimates are available for procedures not covered.
Sedation Options
Sedation Options
Our clinic offers multiple sedation options to assist your child through their dental treatment. One of our dentists will recommend a sedation method based on the age of your child, extent of dental work required, medical conditions, geographical constraints, etc.
Most of our patients are treated with conscious sedation; however, some children will require general anesthesia. These options are reviewed below.
Nitrous Oxide (“Laughing Gas”)
Nitrous oxide is one of the safest and most effective sedation techniques. It aims to reduce anxiety and discomfort for your child and facilitate their cooperation. Your child is awake throughout the procedure and breathes the nitrous oxide through a nasal mask. Patients recover almost immediately following the procedure.
Pre-Sedation Instructions
Your child must not eat or drink (not even water) 2 hours prior to their dental appointment. For your child’s safety, the appointment may need to be rescheduled if they do not follow these instructions.
Oral Sedation With or Without Nitrous Oxide
Medications such as benzodiazepines and antihistamines are used with nitrous oxide to alleviate anxiety and distress. Your child may become drowsy, but they are not unconscious or “asleep.”
General Anesthesia (Dentistry Asleep)
General anesthesia is a medically controlled state that eliminates the sense of awareness, pain and movement during dental treatment. Dental treatment with General Anesthesia is reserved for children with extensive dental needs, challenges cooperating, or those who are extremely fearful or anxious.
We offer this service in 2 locations:
- Hotel Dieu Site of KHSC
- Kingston Dental Anaesthesia Clinic (KDAC)
First visit
Your child’s first visit to the dentist is important. Our approach is patient centered. Most first visits include an examination and oral hygiene instruction. Depending on you child’s developmental stage a dental cleaning and / or radiographs (x-rays) may be performed as well.
We strive to make every visit enjoyable and positive as we learn about your child and guide them through each visit. We understand that every parent has worries about how their child might feel and behave at the dentist. Your help in preparing your child for their first appointment is important. We suggest staying positive. Reassure your child that the dentist and staff will explain everything carefully and answer all of their questions.
Radiographs (X-Rays)
We practice ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) which is a safety principle to minimize radiation exposure. The standard of care for when radiographs need to be taken is based on the dentist’s assessment of each individual patient. Indications for taking radiographs include:
To check for cavities in between teeth, where your dentist cannot directly visualize these tooth surfaces. These ‘hidden’ cavities can get large before they are able to be seen in the mouth without an x-ray.
To assess proper growth and development of the teeth and other dento-alveolar structures.
If trauma to the mouth has occurred.
One of our patients’ most frequently asked questions is, “How much radiation do I get from a dental x-ray?”
The answer is 0.1 – 2.0 mrem. This number is very low when you consider that each year the average person receives 620 mrem of radiation from all natural and man-made sources combined. Just from breathing normally for 1 year the average person gets 228 mrem from radiation in the air.