VisitsShort visits
StartThe first tooth
ParentsStay in the room
In short
Children's dentistry is regular, short check-ups for kids, plus the small things that stop cavities before they start: cleanings, fluoride and sealants. Starting early gets your child used to the chair, and problems are caught while they are small and simple to fix.
Does this sound like you?
- Your child has a first tooth, or is nearly one, and has not seen a dentist yet.
- You spot brown or white spots on the teeth, or your child complains about a sore tooth.
- Your child still sucks a thumb or uses a bottle at night past age two or three.
- Adult molars are coming in and you want them sealed before they decay.
- Teeth look crowded or the bite looks off and you want to know if braces are coming.
What to expect at each age
Ages are typical, not fixed. Every child runs a little early or late, and both are normal.
- First tooth to around age 1
The bottom front teeth usually come in first, often between six and ten months, and gums can be sore for a few days as each one pushes through. Dr. Malik checks the teeth that have arrived, looks at the gums and the lip and tongue ties, and shows you how to clean a baby's mouth. There is no cleaning with tools at this age.
- Wipe teeth twice a day with a soft cloth or baby brush; a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice.
- Do not put your baby down to sleep with a bottle of milk or juice. Water is fine.
- Clean the soother with water, not your mouth.
- Age 2 to 3
Most children have all twenty baby teeth by about age three, and the back molars have touched, so food can trap between them. The visit is a short look, a count of the teeth, a first gentle polish if your child will allow it, and fluoride varnish. Bottle and thumb habits get an honest, no-pressure conversation.
- You brush; they can 'help' first. Kids cannot brush well on their own until about age seven or eight.
- Pea-sized fluoride toothpaste from age three; spit, do not rinse.
- Start flossing once two teeth touch.
- Move from bottle to open cup and keep juice to mealtimes.
- Age 5 to 6
The first adult molars come in behind the baby teeth, often without a baby tooth falling out, so many parents miss them. Around the same time the front baby teeth loosen and go. Dr. Malik checks the new molars, usually recommends sealing them, and often takes the first small X-rays to see the adult teeth waiting underneath.
- Look for the new molars at the very back and brush them on purpose; they sit lower than the teeth in front.
- A wobbly tooth can be left alone; it usually comes out on its own.
- Snacks matter more than sweets: the number of times a day teeth see sugar is what counts.
- Age 7 to 9
Adult front teeth arrive and often look big, yellow next to the baby teeth, or crooked. Much of that settles as the face grows. The visit covers cleaning, fluoride, a check of the sealants, and a first look at how the jaws are lining up, since some bite problems are easier to guide at this age.
- Keep checking their brushing; an electric brush with a two-minute timer helps.
- A mouthguard for hockey, soccer and cycling. A knocked-out adult tooth is a different problem from a knocked-out baby tooth.
- If a tooth is knocked out or broken, call 647.479.3151 the same day.
- Age 10 to 13
The last baby teeth go and the second adult molars come in, usually around twelve, and these get sealed too. Crowding and bite problems are clearest now, and Dr. Malik will tell you whether braces make sense, when, and whether waiting is fine. Gums can bleed a little more during puberty; that is usually a brushing issue, not a disease.
- This is when many kids start skipping brushing at night. It is worth the argument.
- Sports drinks and pop with braces are a common cause of white marks; water is the default.
- Ask about a mouthguard if they play contact sports, and a custom one if they have braces.
- Teens
The mouth is adult-sized, but wisdom teeth are still forming and may show on an X-ray around fifteen to seventeen. The visit is a regular adult check-up and cleaning, a look at any braces or retainer, and a check of whether the wisdom teeth have room. Dr. Malik takes wisdom teeth out himself if they need to go, usually in the late teens or early twenties.
- Retainers only work if worn; teeth drift back within months without them.
- Vaping and energy drinks show up as dry mouth and early decay; we say so plainly, without the lecture.
- Whitening can wait until all adult teeth are in and any braces are off.
What happens.
First visit to finish, in order.
Short visitsThe first toothStay in the room
- First visit, kept shortYou stay in the room the whole time. Dr. Malik looks at the teeth and gums, counts what has come in, and checks how the bite is forming; for a baby, this can be done on your lap.
- Cleaning and fluorideOnce your child can sit for it, teeth are cleaned and polished. A fluoride varnish is painted on to harden the enamel; it takes a minute and your child can eat soon after.
- Sealants on molarsWhen adult molars arrive, usually around age six and again around twelve, a thin coating is brushed into the grooves and set with a light. No drilling, no numbing.
- Habits and home careWe show you how to brush a toddler's teeth and talk through bottles, sippy cups, thumbs and snacks. You get a plain answer on what matters and what does not.
- Watching the biteFrom about age seven, Dr. Malik checks how the jaws and adult teeth are lining up. He does braces himself, so if treatment is ever needed you hear when, why and what the options are.
Cost and insurance.
Check-ups for kids are usually one short visit every six months. Most dental plans cover exams, cleanings, fluoride and sealants for children, in whole or in part. We bill your insurance directly. You see the estimate in writing before anything starts, and any filling is quoted separately so you decide before we book it. No insurance? We tell you the cost up front.
Questions people ask.
When should my child first see a dentist?
Around the first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth, whichever comes first. The first visit is mostly a look and a conversation with you, and it gets your child used to the room.
Can I stay with my child during the appointment?
Yes. Parents are in the room for every visit, and a young child can sit on your lap while Dr. Malik looks.
Are dental sealants worth it?
Adult molars have deep grooves a toothbrush cannot clean, and that is where many childhood cavities start. A sealant fills those grooves, takes a few minutes per tooth and is usually covered by insurance.
What if my child is scared or will not open their mouth?
We go at your child's pace and stop if they need a break. A short first visit that ends well does more good than a long one that ends in tears, and nitrous oxide is an option for older children who need help settling.