Dr. Azeem Sheikh enjoys caring for all his patients, but he takes special interest in getting children started on a path to a lifetime of dental wellness. His low-stress, lighthearted style of paediatric dentistry puts parents at ease and leaves children looking forward to their next visit to the Brampton, ON office.
Dentistry for children should begin within six months after the first tooth makes an appearance, or by the child’s first birthday (even if no teeth are visible). Then, six-month check-ups are recommended – with prompt attention if a problem should arise.
At these early visits:
Why should kids visit a dentist?
Pediatric dentistry, in essence, is when we are dealing with children generally ranging from as young as two years to 10 or 12 years old. Nowadays a lot of parents are busy with their own lives. Many children are not spending time on brushing, flossing, and cleaning their teeth. In addition to this, the diets are also high in sugar content. These habits lead to increased cavities in children.
What are the steps you take to make the kids comfortable?
Generally, we spend time and make them comfortable by developing a relationship and trust. The first hour is spent with them with stories and explaining the ‘sugar bugs.’ The later portion is spent working on the procedure. We usually use distractions such as Netflix and also laughing gas to make them relaxed without any side effects.
How important is pediatric dentistry?
A lot of parents think that these are just baby teeth, and they would finally fall out. But that’s not the case. They make space for adult teeth so, you must take care of them.
Tooth decay is a prevalent problem among Canadian children. Dr. Sheikh has developed a unique approach to increase a child’s awareness of the causes, and what can be done to reduce risk of cavities. He uses the “Sugar Bug” story.
The tale puts tooth decay in relatable terms, as tiny bugs that eat teeth when too much candy is consumed or when teeth are not brushed regularly. The doctor describes how he finds these bugs, and how he gets rid of them. Dental instruments have kid-friendly names like “Mister Thirsty,” the dental suction tool, and Mr. Bumpy the drill. This technique takes anxiety out of the filling procedure, and helps the child feel proud of an attractive white filling. It also empowers the child to take control of dental health with good home care.
When you choose Dr. Sheikh as your child’s dentist, you won’t need to switch providers when he or she approaches adulthood.
You can count on the same level of compassion and care throughout life. Call (905) 581-3726to schedule your kid’s dentist appointment at Brampton Dental Arts.