new westminster family dentist

New Westminster Family Dentist Answers Questions from Parents

Your children’s teeth might be small, but they are important. Following good dental practices as a child is the only way to ensure your children’s dental care routine lasts into their adult years. However, knowing exactly what to do sometimes can be difficult. Parents generally have lots of questions when it comes to their children’s oral hygiene needs.

Just in case you are too nervous or embarrassed to ask, we’ve listed the top questions parents have asked our family dentist about their kids’ teeth.

When should my child see the dentist for the first time?

This is probably the most common question our family dentists hear on a day-to-day basis. The most common time to bring your child to see a dentist is when his or her first tooth erupts. It’s important to create regular dental habits as early as possible.

What should I expect from my child’s first dental visit?

Typically, on a child’s first visit to our Sapperton Dental Office on Columbia Street, the minimum goal is to complete an examination and apply a fluoride varnish. We also work on getting your child to feel comfortable sitting in the dentist’s chair and with the overall process.

Should my child get braces?

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It seems like almost every kid these days has dental braces, and if yours doesn’t, you’re likely wondering if there is some sort of requirement. Fortunately enough, you’re not required to get braces for your child. But if you’re worried his or her teeth aren’t growing in correctly, it might be time for to drop by our New Westminster Dental Office for a consultation.

Do baby teeth really matter if they’re just going to fall out eventually?

This question makes a lot of sense. What’s the point of putting a ton of effort into taking care of baby teeth when they’re just going to fall out? However, baby teeth matter just as much as adult teeth because they pave the way for adult teeth. The way you take care of your child’s baby teeth can have a long-lasting impact on their adult teeth.

Should you brush your child’s teeth?

In short, yes! As explained in the previous question, baby teeth are important and taking care of them encourages good dental habits in your child’s life that will last a lifetime.

How should I brush my child’s teeth?


Your child needs to brush his teeth twice a day, in the morning and after dinner. Ensure that he/she is brushing the inside and outside surfaces thoroughly to dislodge any bacteria. Squirt a small amount of toothpaste onto a soft, children’s toothbrush and begin brushing in a small circular pattern. Children 2 years old and younger only need a small amount of toothpaste, similar to the size of a grain of rice. Children between the age of 2 and 4 years old only need an amount of toothpaste equal to the size of a pea. While children who are 5 years old and older can use the equivalent of the size of a bean

When is it okay to let my child start brushing on his own?

Unfortunately, there is no set age when your child will have the skills to brush his teeth on his own. Each child is different. However, it’s a good idea to allow your child to begin brushing his teeth as soon as he is willing. Of course, you’ll want to stand by and watch to ensure he is doing it properly. As a good rule of measure, your child will probably need assistance brushing his teeth until he is around 6 years old or so.

What should I do if my child doesn’t want to brush?

As a parent, you are well aware that it’s hard to get your child to do anything he doesn’t want to. If your child avoids brushing his teeth like the plague, get creative. Make brushing time more of an event than a duty. Let them know that children’s dental practices can be fun. Consider making it a family practice, where you all do it together, or consider purchasing him a toothbrush with his favorite character on it.

Are Dental X-Rays safe for my child?

X-rays are a normal part of every dental visit, but they’re also exposure to radiation, which makes this question a completely valid concern. However, the risk associated with this very small amount of radiation is non-existent.

Should you consider sedation dentistry for your child?

Sometimes children are incredibly anxious and afraid of going to the dentist. This is called dental phobia or anxiety, and many adults suffer from it as well. Sedation dentistry is definitely an option to calm your child’s nerves, but be sure to consult with your family dentist first.

How can you change your child’s diet with oral health in mind?

The way we eat greatly affects our oral health, and the same is more true for your children. To encourage healthy dental habits, make sure your child eats a healthy, balanced diet. Limit their sugar and starch intake, as these substances most commonly encourage tooth decay.

And always remind your child to rinse their mouth after a meal or drink.

What should you do if your child has a toothache?

Children get bumps and bruises all the time, but that doesn’t mean you need to see a doctor. However, if your child is complaining of a toothache, you should set up an appointment with our Family Dentist at Sapperton Dental Office as soon as possible. To alleviate the pain until you can see a dentist, give your child acetaminophen. You should also rinse the area with warm salt water.

How can you prevent tooth decay?

As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, so it’s understandable that you want to know the best way to take care of your child’s teeth. One of the best things you can do is to teach regular, healthy dental habits, and lead by example. And, of course, don’t forget to schedule regular dental appointments for cleanings and checkups at Sapperton Dental Office on 301 East Columbia Street #105 New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 3W5.

new westminster dental emergency

New Westminster Dentist Addresses Dental Emergencies

We’ve all been there.

A toothache that wakes you up in the middle of the night. The sudden accident that knocks out a tooth. The crunchy snack that chips a tooth or breaks a filling. Well, maybe we haven’t all experienced accidentally losing a tooth, but we all know it can happen easily and without warning.
Any of these can mean pain, or difficulty with normal activities like eating, drinking, sleeping, even breathing. But, what else do dental emergencies have in common?

Anxiety, worry, concern. It’s normal. Many people don’t know what to do when a dental emergency happens.


  1. Should you rush to the hospital?
  2. Can a lost tooth be saved?
  3. Is it okay to take painkillers?
  4. Is there anything you can or should do while waiting for treatment?

So many questions – but in an emergency, you should know that the first thing you should do is call a dentist. If you don’t have one, please call Sapperton Dental in New Westminster at: (604) 544 0894.

Here are some tips for common dental emergencies:

types of cracked tooth vancouver

  1. For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it in between your cheek and gums, in milk, or use a tooth preservation product that has the CDA Seal of Acceptance. Then, get to Sapperton Dental Office in New Westminster, BC right away.
  2. For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area. Put cold compresses on the face to keep any swelling down.
  3. If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.
  4. For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between the teeth. Do not put aspirin on the aching tooth or gum tissues.
  5. For objects stuck in the mouth, try to gently remove with floss but do not try to remove it with sharp or pointed instruments.

When you have a dental emergency, it’s important to visit our New Westminster Dental Office on East Columbia Street or an emergency room as soon as possible.

Here are some simple precautions you can take to avoid accident and injury to the teeth:

  • Wear a mouthguard when participating in sports or recreational activities.
  • Avoid chewing ice, popcorn kernels and hard candy, all of which can crack a tooth.
  • Use scissors, NEVER your teeth, to cut things.

At Sapperton Dental Clinic, our New Westminster Dentists reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients. Call our New Westminster Dental Office at (604) 544 0894 and provide as much detail as possible about your dental emergency.

new westminster dental cleaning

Routine Dental Cleaning with New Westminster Dentist

What happens during a typical dental checkup with Sapperton Dental in New Westminster, BC? Well, let us tell you all about it!

According to the Canadian Dental Association, about 80% of Canadians visit their dentist at least once each year for a regular dental checkup. However many people have little to no idea what is actually happening in their mouth while they’re in the dental chair.

Hearing strange noises and having someone work inside your mouth can understandably cause a lot of stress and anxiety. But not to worry, we’re here to tell you exactly what will be going on from start to finish the next time you visit our Dentist in New Westminster for a routine checkup. After all, the more you know about something, the less scary it seems!

Say hello to our friendly receptionist

new westminster dentist

The first person you’ll meet during your dental appointment is our receptionist – Serena. She makes things flow smoothly around the office, coordinate payments and appointments, and give you your notifications for when you’re supposed to come in next. We have a lot of love for our dental receptionists!

Meeting our Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) in New Westminster

The next person you’ll meet after checking in for your dental appointment, and the person you’ll spend the most time with, is our Certified Dental Assistant aka CDA.

Our New Westminster CDAs are trained dental professionals who take care of routine dental care, such as regular cleanings and assist our New Westminster Dentists in other procedures. They are an integral part of our dental practice in New Westminster, BC and make up a big part of the team that works to keep your oral health at its best.

CDAs provide excellent help with the preparation work and with assisting our dentists during procedures.

You can think of CDAs as the truly unsung heroes at Sapperton Dental in New Westminster!

Your Dental History

Before anything is done inside your mouth, our New Westminster Dentist will need to know about your medical history if this is your first appointment at Sapperton Dental or, if you have been to to our dental practice before, any changes in your health such as new medications, diabetes, arthritis, pregnancy, etc. It is important that our New Westminster Dental Care Team knows about any health concerns, anxieties, or allergies you may have in order to avoid incidents and to make sure you get the kind of care you need.

And when we say that we want you to tell us about any concerns or anxieties you have, we mean it! Don’t be a hero and try to be brave – it’s VERY common to be afraid of the dentist. Sometimes, all a person needs is a little explanation or a little listening to their fears to make things seem a little better.

Dentist Teeth Cleaning

new westminster dentist checkup

Now that you have shared your health concerns, our team of dental professionals can start working inside your mouth. The first thing we will do is give your teeth a thorough cleaning. We start by scraping off built-up plaque and tartar that collects above and below the gum line before flossing between and around every tooth to remove any plaque or food particles that are clinging on.

Our Sapperton Clean Team will also give your teeth a smooth and shiny finish using a tooth polisher with a spinning head and slightly abrasive paste. The polishing will get rid of any residue that was previously missed and will make your teeth smoother so that plaque will not collect as easily on them between visits to the dentist.

Examining the teeth

Now that your pearly whites are squeaky clean, it’s time to have a look at any problem areas in your mouth. A metal probe with a small angled mirror will be used, which will help them see behind and between teeth and gums, as well as check for the softening of tooth enamel and dentin.

Our New Westminster CDAs will also be on the lookout for the swelling of gums in any areas, mouth sores, and redness. Finally, our CDAs will measure your mouth’s periodontal pockets, which are the spaces between the top of the gum line and where the gum tissues firmly attaches to the tooth. Ideally, this pocket should only be between one and three millimeters deep, however deeper pockets can be a sign of gum disease and thus should be closely monitored.

Dental X-Ray

new westminster dental x ray

The last thing to do is take dental x-ray pictures of your mouth so our Dentist in New Westminster, BC can see if there are any issues below the mouth’s surface. This involves biting down on a piece of specially designed plastic while an x-ray imaging machine is placed against your cheek. The resulting image will show the visible parts of your teeth as well as the roots below the gum line and your jaw bones, allowing our dentist to see exactly what is happening in your mouth and assign your oral care as needed.

We want to mention here, our New Westminster Dental Office only recommends digital x-rays, which emit up to 90% less radiation, allow for easy storage, and take less time than traditional machines – which means shorter, more convenient, and safer visits for you!

Dental Exam at Sapperton Dental in New West

The dental exam is different from the initial examination that our CDAs completed as this one is done by our dentist. Our Sapperton Dentists will use your dental x-rays to see if there is any loss of bone, fractures, or any other abnormality below your visible gum line before moving on to look for issues with jaw alignment, teeth grinding, and oral cancer.

Generally, our dentist in New Westminster, BC will feel your jaw bones from outside of your mouth while you bite down to ensure that your bite is smooth, aligned, and there is no clicking or popping from your jaw joints. They will also inspect the grooves of your teeth to see if any of them have been cracked or smoothed down due to grinding or jaw clenching. Finally, our dentist will gently feel behind your jaw and your neck to see if there are any signs of oral cancer.

Once all of this is done, our dentist should have a full understanding of what your oral health needs are, and will be able to prescribe any necessary dental treatments to prevent or treat your issues.

Dental Results & Advice

After the dental exam is complete, our New West Dentist at Sapperton Dental will let you know exactly what is going on in your mouth and will advise you about next steps. Sometimes this involves scheduling another dental appointment at our New West Dental Office for a procedure while other times our New West Dentist will give you advice about what you can do at home to better your oral health. It is extremely important that you listen to this advice and put it into action as best you can to ensure that your next checkup is the best it can be.

Future Dental Appointments

The final step of the routine dental checkup is scheduling your next one for a date four to six months in the future. Scheduling your next appointment right away is the easiest and most effective way to ensure that you don’t forget to have your dental checkup regularly. Even if you are diligent in your personal dental care, there is no better protection against oral issues than having your mouth professionally cleaned and monitored.

Take a trip back to our front desk and once again you’ll be helped out by a smiling and attentive dental receptionist. And, as always, if you have any questions or concerns about any part of your dental visit or your upcoming scheduled visits, make sure to let her know. Trust us, she doesn’t bite. We’re very strict about that sort of thing.

To schedule a routine dental cleaning with Sapperton Dental Clinic in New Westminster, BC please call (604) 544 0894 or visit our New Westminster Dental Office at 301 East Columbia Street #105 New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 3W5. We accept walk-ins and dental emergencies!