Infants
We are extremely excited about the infant program within our office. The current recommendation for infants in Ontario is that they see a dentist by the time they get their first tooth or by the age of one. Our exam for infants is primarily an education session for parents. We take the opportunity to explain cavity risk and what factors influence it. We identify whether or not each infant is at risk for developing cavities and provide essential strategies to reducing this risk. We also observe the current oral care for the infant and provide tips on technique that will allow effective plaque removal.
A second important concept we introduce is growth and development. Early identification of growth and development will allow us to predict future relationship of the jaws and teeth. Strategies and recommendations on how this can be influenced are given if necessary.
By introducing dentistry at the infant stage in life, we hope to provide the tools that can help children keep their teeth until they fall out naturally. This is critical for the development of speech, allowing the proper alignment of teeth and keeping children free of oral disease and pain. It also makes it significantly less likely that the infant will develop a fear of the dental office. Our hope is that by starting in our infant program, we can introduce the philosophies that are used in our child and adult programs. Through this consistency, we hope to give each individual the best chance at remaining disease free and keeping their teeth for a lifetime.
.
