Okanagan Pediatric Dentistry
101-1890 Cooper Rd V1Y 8B7 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Masks seem pretty straight forward...they do only work if you wear them though...OPD’s newest Covid Door Sign!

Teething, the sequel. In keeping with my last dental article, this is a question related to teething that arises often in the dental office, and causes many caregivers a great deal of concern. What happens when there are permanent teeth coming in while the baby teeth are still present? The switch from baby teeth to permanent teeth is a process that has a few stages. The first stage happens between 6 and 8 years old when the front teeth change over and the 6 year permanent...Continue reading

Common Teething Questions - Part 1 Most of us don’t recall from childhood the events surrounding teething. There are a great many questions generated by parents regarding this topic, which happens in several stages, and so, here we will provide some insights as to when, how and why teething occurs. One of the most common questions about teething is regarding when baby teeth start to erupt. What is normal? The best answer to this question is that there is a very wide range...Continue reading

My newest look, for those of you who know that I change all of the time. I call this my "Newly Fitted for N95 Respirator" beard. Passed with flying colours! We don't HAVE any N95 masks, which makes it impossible to offer treatment AND...it seems that it may get a little bit harder to get them. https://globalnews.ca//coronavirus-3m-n95-respirators-tr/

Toothpaste, what works? In several recent posts we have discussed both toothbrushes and toothbrushing, but haven’t said much about the stuff you put on the brush! While shopping around in the pharmacy, grocery store, or natural food store, you have likely noticed that toothpaste comes in a variety of different formulations, all touting their benefits. All of the different kinds have their advantages and disadvantages, but none have ALL of the advantages in one tube....Continue reading

What’s the Best Brush? Often parents will ask about toothbrushes and whether the brush they are using for their child’s teeth is appropriate. The answer to that question is that it depends. According to the scientific literature and to a study published by one of the most definitive sources, the Cochrane Group, a manual toothbrush can be just as effective as an electric one. There are some considerations, however. Like any instrument or tool, the function of the toothbru...Continue reading

Tooth Brushing for Children 101 Tooth brushing is such a simple act. It’s so simple that many parents are unaware how much "good" can be accomplished in two minutes with a toothbrush. Many parents who visit our office describe how difficult it is to brush their children’s teeth. The goal of this article is to help parents with tips on the whys, hows and whens of brushing their children’s teeth. Developing good oral health habits from a very young age will lead to a lifetim...Continue reading

Brilliant idea! We all need love in these days, and near to hear positive messages! People caring about people.

Food & tooth decay: a child’s diet can creat a perfect storm for tooth decay Why do children suffer tooth decay? In a word - FOOD! When parents are asked what they think is the reason their children have decay, most respond "poor brushing" or "not flossing". While everyone knows these are important in maintaining good oral health, few know that it is the child’s diet which can create the PERFECT STORM of tooth decay. Why is diet the single most important risk factor in toot...Continue reading

There has been a great deal of discussion in the media regarding the use of ibuprofen (NSAID) based pain/symptom management medications. We are all struggling to determine what information is 'real' in these times when, if you have a keyboard, anyone can post anything anywhere. When filtering information, medical professionals refer to "evidence based' literature. This is information that has been gleaned from research and reviewed by peers in a particular field. This al...lows professionals to guide their community toward recommendations for their health that are proven to be safe and effective. The Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) is the group responsible for putting the medical interests of children and families first. As an advocate for children, I follow recommendations and guidelines closely. Recently, the CPS released a statement on the use of NSAID medications in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. I am including the link for you to review, but in summary: "...there is no evidence that parents and clinicians caring for children over 6 months of age with suspected COVID-19 infection should avoid the use of ibuprofen for fever control." Please be safe out there, and respect each other's health by observing social distancing recommendations. https://www.cps.ca//can-nsaids-be-used-in-children-when-co

There’s something in the water...or is there? One of the words synonymous with dental offices is fluoride. Most people know that fluoride is considered by dentists to be helpful for teeth, but may not know why. What is it about fluoride that helps teeth? It’s all in the chemistry. Fluoride works in three ways: 1) it helps to make enamel resistant to acids created by bacteria, 2) it helps enamel to recover or remineralize once it has been attacked by acids created by ...Continue reading

Untouched bacteria ‘sugarbugs’ will lead to tooth decay. Many children with dental disease have a poor quality of life because of chronic pain and infection which makes sleeping and eating difficult. Providing information through this forum to parents of children in the Interior of B.C. will be helpful in giving them important tools to prevent dental disease in their children. ...Continue reading

What if my child has sore tooth? Children with advanced dental cavities will often complain of having tooth pain. If pain occurs during eating or tooth brushing, this often means that the cavity is approaching the nerve inside the tooth, and the nerve will respond to food impaction or stimulation from brushing. This type of pain is usually temporary and will resolve if food is removed or when brushing is finished. The tooth is likely treatable at this time, provided there ...is enough tooth structure left to fix. If tooth pain is occurring spontaneously, such as through the day when not eating or especially at night, then the nerve inside the tooth may be inflamed to the point that it can no longer settle on its own. Treatment is necessary to prevent further progression. If treatment is not possible, as in times when there is a lack of access to care, for example, if there is a pandemic and all dental offices are closed, then pain management is necessary. This has been discussed in my recent post. Many times if treatment has not been rendered a tooth can abscess, which means that the tissue inside the tooth, nerves and blood vessels, are no longer healthy and bacteria have invaded the space inside the tooth (pulp space, or root canal). This process results in a 1-3 day period of intense tooth discomfort, followed by what seems like a resolution of symptoms. One of two things will happen: 1) The resulting abscess will swell in the area directly surrounding or beside the tooth and you will see a bubble similar to a pimple (these can be quite large when they first form, up to a centimetre or so). This is a sign of a dental infection, and the body will generally allow this to drain. Prior to draining, the buildup of fluid (pus) can cause pressure and significant discomfort. Upon draining, pain is relieved. This tooth will require removal. Appropriate pain management with over the counter pain medications (not topical gels) is indicated. ANTIBIOTICS are not required at this time. 2) The resulting abscess will swell around the tooth but also the surrounding area including the cheek, jawline, or beneath the eye. There is significant discomfort, redness of the face in the area of the swelling, and may include a fever. ANTIBIOTICS are necessary in this scenario. In both cases, immediate consultation with your dentist is indicated. Call your dentist’s office to make an appointment, or follow the emergency instructions on the answering machine. When caring for you child’s teeth, make sure you do so with adequate light so that at least once per week you LOOK closely at their teeth, and especially in the area between the back teeth for signs of shadows or chips that can be a sign of hidden cavities. Stay healthy out there! Terry

How do I manage dental pain? I get this question often. There are plenty of reasons that kids will experience oral discomfort. Some of the most common examples are: 1) canker sores (self limiting small oral ulcers lasting 7-10 days, generally caused by microtrauma, eg: Doritos, popcorn, hard toothbrushing)... 2) food impaction eg: popcorn husks 3) teething, especially around 6 years old, over the new molars 4) wiggly teeth, in the front between 6 and 8 years old, and in the back between 9 and 12. 5) cavities if they are fairly deep, and dental abscesses Topical medications such as Orajel can temporarily relieve the discomfort of teething or canker sores. This can be effective if used prior to eating or tooth brushing, but will not last very long (15-20 minutes). There is a significant risk of overdose and negative side effects if topical medications (local anesthetics) are used too often, or in large amounts, ESPECIALLY for very young children. Systemic medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) are the most effective method for pain management of dental/oral origin (follow the directions on the bottle carefully for dosing). Primarily, ibuprofen is my recommendation as a first line pain medication. Acetaminophen is also effective. Occasionally, I recommend staggering the doses of ibuprofen and acetaminophen for SEVERE pain, such that one of the medications is given every 3 hours. For example, ibuprofen at 8am, acetaminophen at 11am, ibuprofen again at 2pm, etc. Each medication is metabolized differently in the body, making this pain management method safe in the short term. Please note that this SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY on a regular basis, and if your child is having pain of dental origin, your dental provider should be consulted ASAP. Whew! That’s some heavy stuff! Alright everyone, back to having fun! Many of us are home with our families, so enjoy it! If you’re working, thank you for helping to keep our economy moving along! Be safe out there, and create a great day! Terry