Kid-Friendly Dental Cleanings and Exams
Just like adults, children should be visiting the dentist on a regular basis. Routine teeth cleaning and dental exams are two of the most important steps you can take to protect your child’s oral health and support healthy development. Cleaning removes plaque, tartar, and bacteria that can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, chronic bad breath, and can even affect how their adult teeth come in. A kid-friendly dental hygienist knows exactly how to reach the spots that are tough for kids to clean on their own with everyday brushing and flossing at home.
Once your child’s teeth are freshly cleaned, it’s the ideal time for the hygienist and dentist to take a closer look at their overall oral health, keep an eye on problem areas, and check on baby teeth that may be loosening or falling out and adult teeth settling into place. This is also a great time to talk about fluoride treatment, which helps protect new adult teeth as they come in. We’ll let you know exactly what to watch for and share practical tips for oral care at home, tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Routine pediatric teeth cleanings and dental exams help:
- Keep baby teeth and new adult teeth as healthy and strong as possible.
- Prevent gum disease and support their overall oral health.
- Track their progress and milestones through every stage of development.
- Build a positive, comfortable relationship with the dentist.
- Encourage kids to take an active role in their own oral hygiene.
- Establish good dental habits that will last a lifetime.
What to Expect at Your Child's Dental Cleaning
Before your child’s dental cleaning even begins, we’ll review their chart and history to quickly spot any problem areas or troubling patterns. Depending on what we find, we may take prescribed X-rays or talk with you about fluoride treatment or dental sealants for their new adult teeth. Throughout the visit, we speak with your child in a kid-friendly way to help them feel comfortable, asking how they feel about their teeth and mouth and giving them space to share anything they’re curious or unsure about.
Gum health
Gum health is often overlooked, but healthy gums are what support your child’s teeth and frame a confident smile. Strong, healthy gums matter even more while permanent teeth are coming in, and children can be just as prone to gum disease as adults. During your child’s visit, we’ll carefully examine the soft tissues of their mouth and offer age-appropriate advice for flossing and gum care they can start practicing at home.
Plaque & tartar removal
Plaque is a soft, sticky film that starts building up on teeth almost as soon as they come in. Left uncleaned, plaque can harden into stubborn tartar deposits over time. Both plaque and tartar contribute to tooth decay and tend to be hardest to remove between teeth and along the gumline. Our dental hygienists have the tools and expertise to gently scale away built-up plaque and tartar from those hard-to-reach spots. Once that’s taken care of, we may recommend a fluoride treatment to help strengthen and protect their enamel.
Watching for milestones
Your dentist will review your child’s chart and any new X-rays, keeping an eye on problem areas, patterns worth watching, or new developments to track over time. Children typically get their first set of baby teeth between 6 months and 6 years of age. From there, they’ll gradually lose their baby teeth as their permanent adult teeth come in, a process that continues well into the teenage years (and even later for wisdom teeth). Every child develops at their own pace, and your dentist will monitor their progress closely, addressing any concerns or delays along the way.
How Much Does a Kids' Dental Cleaning Cost in Toronto?
Just like adult teeth cleanings and exams, routine checkups for kids are such an effective way to prevent dental problems that most insurance plans cover pediatric dental cleaning almost entirely on a regular basis. With typical insurance, you might pay as little as $0 to $50 or so out of pocket. Most insurance providers cover this care every 6 months, barring any special circumstances. Without dental insurance, you can expect to pay anywhere from $120 to $300 and up, particularly for a first appointment or a first visit in a while.
When we determine the actual cost of your child’s treatment, we take a few important factors into account:
- Their current oral health.
- Any new X-rays that may be required.
- Fluoride treatment or dental sealants for new adult teeth.
- The amount of time our dental team needs to meet their specific needs.
- The equipment and supplies required to provide complete care.
Keep in mind, no dentist can provide an exact quote over the phone. If you’d like more personalized information or an itemized estimate, we’re happy to provide one upon request. We can’t emphasize enough how important routine pediatric dental care is. Monitoring the many changes happening in your child’s mouth as they grow is the most effective way to prevent costly, painful complications down the road.
Contact us today
to schedule an initial consultation & exam.
Your consultation will include an examination of everything from your teeth, gums and soft tissues to the shape and condition of your bite. Generally, we want to see how your whole mouth looks and functions. Before we plan your treatment we want to know everything about the health and aesthetic of your smile, and most importantly, what you want to achieve so we can help you get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Just like adults, most children should visit the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning and checkup, unless your dentist recommends otherwise. Some kids may benefit from visits as often as every 3 months, but we’d strongly recommend never waiting longer than a year between appointments.
Don’t wait. If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth or oral health, it’s best to book an appointment right away so we can address any issues while they’re still minor.
Young children often don’t have the words or the frame of reference to describe dental pain, and some will simply try to cope rather than speak up. Here are some signs your child might be dealing with tooth pain or discomfort:
- Frequently touching or cupping their face and teeth.
- Acting defensive or fearful about letting others near their face and teeth.
- Swelling, redness, or discolouration around the gums, cheeks, or teeth.
- A fever, which can sometimes accompany a toothache.
- Avoiding hot and cold foods and drinks.
- Steering clear of chewy or hard foods, like raw veggies or chunks of meat.
- Chewing only on one side of their mouth.
- Increased irritability or a noticeably low mood.
Most dental appointments last between thirty minutes and an hour, though they can run a bit longer for kids who have plenty of questions or need some extra reassurance and patience along the way.
A few simple habits can make a big difference in your child’s oral health for years to come:
- Start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as they come in, using an approved, child-friendly toothpaste and a soft, age-appropriate toothbrush.
- Teach your child about their mouth and how to care for it, and get them into the habit of brushing their own teeth twice a day.
- Children benefit greatly from fluoride treatment. Ask your dentist about fluoride treatment at your next visit, and use fluoridated toothpaste and drinking water at home.
- Sugary or acidic foods and drinks, like juice and pop, contribute to tooth decay and are best enjoyed in moderation.
- Try to avoid sweet treats and snacks before bed.
- Lead by example. Brush your own teeth twice a day and don’t forget to floss!
Your child should wait at least 30 minutes after a fluoride treatment before eating or drinking. This waiting period gives the fluoride time to fully absorb into the tooth enamel before it gets brushed away by food or rinsed off with a drink.
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