Good dentist for toddler

sugar · by **sugar** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:57 am

I remember seeing a posting a few months ago where a whole bunch of moms recommended a good kids dentist. I wrote down the name and have since lost the piece of paper it's written on. My son has seven teeth now

and is 15 months old, so I figured it's high time to go. Thanks for your help!!

~Karen

sarah ruth · by **sarah ruth** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:02 pm

we go to Luc Magne, on shelbourne. I like him, the kids (2,4) are very comfortable there and aren't scared of any of the tools for cleaning. He's got good toys in his waiting room too

Nickie · by **Nickie** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:18 pm

I was calling up a few offices a couple months ago and was told by all to wait until madie was 3 and could sit in the chair without wiggling?? I know all they will do is just look at them but....

Should I be taking her soon cause she has about 8 teeth now and more are comming in?? So confused

Thanks Nicole

JaynaF · by **JaynaF** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 1:34 pm

We go to Dr. Malpass on Cloverdale. He is soooo good with the kids,and teh assistants there are awesome too. Very gentle, and tells you everything he is doing. Its decorated nice for kids too. Check him out, we are happy with him and I HATE dentists.... LOL They usually like to see kids by the time they are about 2.5-3 yrs old, but you can bring them any time you go, the ladies there are so good at watchign the wee ones while you ahve a check up or what not if its not too busy. Kira got her mouth looked at the first time when we went in september. she was 2.5 then. but that was just a look see.... Good luck! Jayna

greeeneyedwhwoman · by **greeeneyedwhwoman** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 5:38 pm

Hi

I've just recently discovered a FAB dentist for my youngest daughter.

His name is Dr. Norman Bull and he is a Pediatric Dentist only......he won't work on adults. There is a huge aquarium in his waiting room, desk for kids and toys etc.

His phone number is 595-3322

His addy is #203-3550 Saanich Rd.

on the corner in the back of Save On and where the Library is.

My daughter loves him and she has had some horrid experiences.

Good luck

Anne

sonja · by **sonja** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:33 pm

My son sees Dr. Rao who is in the same office as Dr. Bull. The office is wonderful, the hygienists are amazing and Dr. Rao knows exactly how much time he has with his little patients. :wink:

We started seeing him when my son turned 2. Good luck with your decision!

Sonja

Anonymous Posts · by **Anonymous Posts** on Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:41 pm

I would wait until your child is around 3... I'm a dental assistant, and from experience children who are younger than three more often than not will wiggle too much and not want their mouth looked at... or start crying :roll:

So unless you see some dark spots on their teeth then I wouldn't worry too much about it... I know my little man won't even let me peek at his teeth to see if any more are coming in... haha

Charlotte · by **Charlotte** on Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:36 am

We took our son to see Dr. Wright in Brentwood Bay. I don't have his address or number handy, but he was totally fabulous. My son is only two, but they said that they recommend kids start going as soon as they have teeth so that they get used to going and aren't afraid. My son laid back on my husband's lap with his head resting on the doctor's knee and got his check-up done that way. It went great! And, they only charge for work that they are actually able to accomplish. Good luck on your search!

QT · by QT on Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:27 pm

I will second greeneyedwomanz recommendation of Dr.Bull. I took my son there when he was just over 2; I had concerns about his chewing- or lack thereof-on his molars...the whole experience was reassureing that in the future, they will have the xperience and facilities to make the visits as painless as possible!

QA recommended Dr. Bull to me, as my son has sensory disorders.

westcoastgold · by **westcoastgold** on Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:45 pm

Our daughters (3 and 7years old) love Dr. Bull and his staff.

We would highly recommend them to anyone!!

Good Luck.

MK2mom · by **MK2mom** on Mon Jan 16, 2006 12:58 pm

Charlotte wrote:We took our son to see Dr. Wright in Brentwood Bay. I don't have his address or number handy, but he was totally fabulous. My son is only two, but they said that they recommend kids start going as soon as they have teeth so that they get used to going and aren't afraid. My son laid back on my husband's lap with his head resting on the doctor's knee and got his check-up done that way. It went great! And, they only charge for work that they are actually able to accomplish. Good luck on your search!

I second Dr. Wright. I have taken my oldest to him and he is fabulous! He is on the corner of W.Saanich Rd and Wallace, across from TruValue Foods. His phone # is 652-0008.

tyes mom · by **tyes mom** on Mon Jan 16, 2006 1:56 pm

wow what a perfect question, i need to take my son to a dentist, my own doesnt do kids but said to go to someone else ( dont remember who, and lost the paper) but i did call them and unfortunately, they dont do the whole thing were your works insurance covers the dentist visit, they make you pay out of your own pocket and then we'd have to send into the place to be reimbursed :roll:

SO my question now, does anyone know if these dentist that have been recomended (im thinking the one in save on plaza being its close to me), do they make u pay out of your pocket or do they send in them selfs to the insurance people?? Thank you

westcoastgold · by **westcoastgold** on Mon Jan 16, 2006 5:02 pm

With our insurance company, Dr. Bull's office submits directly to the insurance company, so far we haven't had to pay anything but I guess it would depend on your insurance package.

WCM · by **WCM** on Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:00 pm

I have a wonderful dentist in Vancouver, I've seen him for 20 years. He always says to be sure to have the kids in by age 2, not because he plans on 'doing' anything to them, but so they get to know the experience, and he can just visually look in their mouths and check things out for future check ups. My kids sit on my lap, even ds who is now 5. He has never had a cleaning yet, because Dr. feels it is more important to have him trust him and be comfortable than polish his teeth. I try really hard to keep their teeth well, no fruit leather, raisins, candy, pop or juice. I really like that he does not push procedure but rather wants to establish healthy habits and a trusting relationship with my kids.

Brenda N · by **Brenda N** on Mon Jan 16, 2006 6:54 pm

I third, fourth and fifth Drs Bull and Rao. Their office is kid friendly and their assistants, hygeiniests and staff all know how to work with kids. What I like about a pediatric dentist is that they are also up on the current methodologies for children. My 3 year old just had his first cleaning. My 6 year old needed a crown when she was 5...we wouldn't have known if she hadn't been going to him for a couple of years already. Now she's about to go to have her back teeth coated to help prevent decay. My 8yr old had this done already and it has helped. The thing is that my 8 yo previously would not let our regular dentist do much....about 3 years ago. couldn't even take x rays and we really needed dental xrays for other reasons. so we took him to Dr. Bull and on the first visit they got one xray and he left happy. The second visit we took the rest of the xrays. They just knew how to work with kids....and the spiderman hanging off the ceiling and kites and boats and whatever else hanging everywhere don't hurt either.

What I've found is that regular dentists aren't always "up" on the specifics of children's dental health....they don't always know the current info and recommendations on things like coatings, flouride supplements, etc etc etc. And they don't always have child sized things....like xray tabby things (they hurt ME ...imagine how they felt in his 5year old mouth).