Dr Mysa Vovan

Dr Mysa Vovan is a dentist who specialized in pediatric dentistry. Not only she is a close friend, but she is excellent in what she does and I refer her all my little patients who need extra attention and extra care, even if she practices 60 kilometres away from me. I am sure that those refered patients will get the best treatment for in order to help them save their teeth.

Dr Brock Rondeau

Dr Brock Rondeau is a dentist who practices in London, Ontario (Canada) and who lectures to other dentists on the subject of orthodontics, orthopedics, snoring and TMJ. He is recognized as one of the leaders in the orthodontic profession in the area of early treatment and functional appliances.

I first took his orthodontics course in the year 2003, and I was stimulated to practice dentistry at a different level, to help my patients oral health, but also overall health. I have since taken many courses that Dr Rondeau offers, including TMJ and sleep apnea.

Pregnancy and Dental X-Rays

If you are a pregnant woman and if you have a tooth ache, you might hesitate seeing a dentist if you wonder how safe X-rays are. Moreover, if you are in a situation where you just learned that you are pregnant and you are wondering if you should schedule a routine check-up with your dentist.

These worries are normal for a pregnant woman to have, especially if it’s your first baby and you want to take every precaution not to harm him. If you are suffering from toothache or if you have a dental emergency, your dentist would ideally need a proper X-ray to detect what the problem is.

Dentists and physicians generally do not recommend taking any X-rays during the first trimester of pregnancy. Furthermore, routine X-rays, which are usually taken during a dental check-up, should be postponed until after childbirth.

Emergency X-rays can be safe, if not carried on during the first three months of pregnancy. Your dentist would use a lead blanket to cover your body and protect your uterus from any radiation. Some dentists would also do treatments needing multiple X-rays, such as root canal therapy, but that remains controversial. Put in mind that major treatments can be also started while you are pregnant and continued after you have given birth. Therefore if you are suffering from dental pain, do not ignore it and call your dentist!

Complete article: Are Dental X-Rays Safe for Pregnant Women?
Source: Pregnancy and Dental Care
In French: Grossesse et radiographies dentaires

Early Childhood Caries

Early childhood caries is something that all parents should be concerned about if they are taking care of a baby or a child younger than 5 years old. This type of cavity is very aggressive and it affects deciduous teeth, especially the front ones that are on top. Early childhood caries apprear if a child’s teeth are exposed for long periods to liquids containing sugars. These liquids include fruit juices, soft drinks and even milk and baby formula.

It was previously called baby bottle tooth decay because a baby’s front teeth had extensive cavities after leaving for a long time a bottle in his mouth containing either milk or any other sweet liquid. The resulting effect were dark brown spots that could be seen around the front teeth. If these cavities develop, they grow larger, eventually destroying the whole tooth, like shown in the group of teeth on the above picture.

It is recommended not to let a baby have his bottle for more than 10 minutes, if the bottle contains milk or any sweet liquid. If the baby bottle remains longer in a baby’s mouth, only pure water should be in it.

Full article: Early Childhood Tooth Decay.
Source: Update on Early Childhood Caries
In french: Carie de la petite enfance

Age that a Baby’s Teeth Start Erupting

If you wonder at exactly what age your child’s teeth start erupting, well at around 6 months you should get some results. The first teeth to erupt are the lower central incisors, which are right in the centre of the lower jaw. Within the age of two, all 20 deciduous teeth must have come out completely.

Here’s a complete chart of tooth eruption. Remember that the numbers are averages and a variation of a few months is considered to be normal.

Primary Teeth
Upper Teeth	Eruption Time	Age of Loss of Tooth
Central Incisor	8 to 12 months	6 to 7 years old
Lateral Incisor	9 to 13 months	7 to 8 years old
Cuspid	16 to 22 months	10 to 12 years old
First Molar	13 to 19 months	9 to 11 years old
Second Molar	25 to 33 months	10 to 12 years old
Lower Teeth	Eruption Time	Age of Loss of Tooth
Central Incisor	6 to 10 months	6 to 7 years old
Lateral Incisor	10 to 16 months	7 to 8 years old
Cuspid	17 to 23 months	9 to 12 years old
First Molar	14 to 18 months	9 to 11 years old
Second Molar	23 to 31 months	10 to 12 years old

Full Article: At What Age Do Children’s Teeth Start Coming out?
In French: Âge que les dents d’un bébé sortent

How to Provide the Best Dental Care for Your Kids

Parents play an essential role in keeping their children’s teeth healthy and clean. Preventive care starts at home. Here are some ways to promote oral health for your children. 

Avoid sugar

Sugary foods and sweet drinks mix with bacteria in the mouth, forming an acid that attacks tooth enamel, leading to cavities. 

Clean teeth

It is important that parents clean their children’s teeth when they are very young, and do it with them as they get older.

Visit your dentist

It is advised to visit the dentist within 6 months of the eruption of a child’s first tooth. Some dental associations recommend a first dental visit at the age of two years old.

Pacifiers and thumb sucking

Sucking helps babies to relax, but by age two or three, he or she has less need to suck. Foremost, never put sugar, honey or corn syrup on a pacifier.

Help prevent early childhood tooth decay

Once a child has teeth, he or she is susceptible to tooth decay. Mother’s milk, formula, cow’s milk, and fruit juice all contain sugars. Never let your child fall asleep with a bottle of milk, formula or juice or with breast milk still in his or her mouth.

Full Article: Providing the Best Dental Care for Your Kids
Source: The Canadian Dental Association
In French: Comment procurer les meilleurs soins dentaires pour vos enfants