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Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry

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Canada
Vernon, BC
Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry

Serving the North Okanagan and beyond!

02/12/2026

Beautiful before and after zirconia crown restoration!

01/08/2026

Before and after restorations of severe early childhood cavities on the front teeth.

07/15/2025

We received these beautiful flowers from a lovely family as a "thank you" for the care they've received. We appreciate the positivity and kindness!

Pediatric dentistry is all about preventing new cavities and building kids' confidence at the dentist.

06/17/2025

Why does Dr. Jen often discuss the option of crowns on back teeth even when cavities are smaller?

Because pediatric dentists are trained to evaluate risk factors for more cavities in the future. If a child is at high risk for new cavities in the future, a stainless steel crown is usually the better option, even when the cavity is small. This is especially true if a child is very young when they first get cavities and if they are going to have treatment under general anesthesia.
Which children are at high risk for new cavities? Some important risk factors include :
children who "graze" or snack frequently
siblings or parents who are "cavity prone"
children with higher levels of plaque or cavity causing bacteria
children who had cavities at a very young age

05/22/2025

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) says that there are CLEAR CUT recommendations for crowns on baby teeth"
- After a pulpotomy or "baby root canal"
- For teeth with developmental defects
- For teeth with large cavities involving multiple surfaces where fillings will probably fail
In these situations, placing a stainless steel crowns is "best practice"-AAPD

At Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, the advice given is evidence based (or research based) and follows the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. The AAPD is the organization that provides pediatric dentists with practice recommendations based on research.

04/29/2025

Why does Dr. Jen discuss the benefits of stainless steel crowns for kids who need dental treatment under general anesthesia?

Because research shows that stainless steel crowns protect from future cavities. On baby molars, stainless steel crowns are also more durable than fillings and last longer than fillings. After 2 years, they are also more cost effective than fillings because they are less likely to need to be replaced.
"Strong consideration should be given to the use of SSCs in children who require general anesthesia" - American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Position Paper on Stainless Steel Crowns.

04/22/2025

How do Pediatric Dentists "predict" future cavities in a child?

The best indicator of a child's risk for new cavities is whether they have had cavities in the past. If your child has already had cavities, they will be at risk for new cavities later on. Other risk factors include lack of fluoride, frequent snacking, getting cavities at a very young age and whether or not parents or siblings are prone to cavities (among other things).

04/08/2025

Why are cavities on the front baby teeth important to recognize early, even when they are small?

Because kids with cavities in the front baby teeth have a much higher rate of cavities in the back teeth too (Up to 8 times higher!).
"The overwhelming consensus in the literature is that young children who demonstrate certain caries patterns will continue to develop certain caries patterns over time"
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Recognizing cavities in the front teeth allows a pediatric dentist to anticipate the high likelihood that there will be cavities in the back teeth in the future. This is an opportunity to modify diet, brushing and fluoride use to try to prevent more cavities.

04/01/2025

Why are baby teeth "worth" fixing?

Fixing baby teeth with fillings or crowns might seem expensive. But not fixing them is almost always more expensive long term, especially the back teeth. Baby teeth (or primary teeth) hold space for the permanent teeth. When cavities in baby teeth get very large and need to be extracted, many children will require orthodontic treatment to regain lost space to make room for the permanent teeth. It can be expensive to regain this lost space later on and it means more trips to the dentist too!

03/20/2025

Why are x-rays so important to find cavities between baby teeth?

With bitewing x-rays, over 90% of cavities between the teeth can be found. Without x-rays, only about 40% of cavities between the teeth are found and usually once they are already big cavities.
Taking x-rays allows us to find smaller cavities which makes treatment easier and more cost effective.

At Happy Teeth Pediatric Dentistry, the decision to take x-rays is based on many factors including a child's age, whether the teeth are touching and the RISK for cavities. Most children are able to take their first x-rays by age 4, especially if they have been visiting the dentist regularly. Finding cavities at an early stage allows more options for treatment and is more cost effective than finding cavities late.

02/25/2025

During a lap exam, the pediatric dentist gathers a lot of information in a short time. Some of this information includes:

the number of teeth
the pattern of eruption
plaque on the teeth
evidence of trauma or "bumps" to the teeth
the presence and pattern of cavities
spacing or crowding of the teeth
enamel defects
the presence of early cavities/white spots/demineralization
changes in the teeth or jaws from soothers or thumb sucking
presence and severity of frenum's (lip ties or tongue ties)

The lap exam is actually very fast. How does a pediatric dentist gather so much information in a short period of time? It's because of the years of specialized training and experience.

After the lap exam, the parent soothes the child. Then the dentist discusses what was seen during the exam and gives advice that is up-to-date and based on research and studies.

Some of the things we discuss can include breastfeeding, diet, soothers and thumb sucking, fluoride use and/or fluoride alternatives, brushing techniques and injury prevention.

Parents are ALWAYS given the chance to ask questions.

Address

3105 31 Street
Vernon, BC

Telephone

+12505425451

Website

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