Heritage Valley Dental

Pediatric dentists are the pediatricians of dentistry. A pediatric dentist has two to three years specialty training following dental school and limits his/her practice to treating children only. Pediatric dentists are primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, including those with special health needs.

An initial exam is recommended by your child's first tooth or first birthday. This first exam can give both the dentist and the parent an opportunity to review some fundamentals of pediatric dental growth and development, check for cavities, and review some important preventative measures. Early detection and management of oral conditions can improve your child's oral health and general health and well-being. Delaying treatment can sometimes result in more extensive and costly care.

This first visit gives your child an opportunity to meet the dentist in a non-threatening and friendly way. We will complete a visual examination of the gums and teeth, assess your child's behaviour and may request necessary x-rays to evaluate areas we cannot see visually. We want to keep the appointment short and fun for the child. This may mean that we will wait until the second visit to complete a cleaning or perform any dental work your child may need. We may ask you to wait in the reception area during part of the visit so that a relationship can be built between your child and the dentist.

Children are often way cooler about going to see the dentist than their parents are. Try not to project any anxiety you might have onto your little one. Just relax and be honest, and tell your child he or she is going to the dentist, which is a good thing. You can even say: 'the doctor will count your teeth', and that it will be fun. We're pretty sure it will be!

A check-up every six months is generally recommended in order to prevent cavities, find cavities at their earliest stages, and catch other dental problems. However, we will recommend to you when and how often your child should visit based on their personal oral health.

We will bill your insurance company directly and collect the balance from you (if any) at the time of treatment.

Yes, we accept social services including Alberta Child Health Benefits (ACHB) plans and First Nations Non Insured Health Benefits (NIHB).

Your child will keep some of their primary or 'baby' teeth until approximately 9 to 13 years old. Primary teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. Untreated dental cavities in primary teeth can result in pain and infection.