The practical questions, answered

Yes, and most families with more than one child do. Say so when you book and we’ll schedule them together, either in sequence or, depending on the day and the ages, side by side. Ask for the first appointment of the day or one straight after school if you can, because those fill first.

A routine check-up and cleaning usually runs thirty to forty-five minutes, and a child’s appointment can be longer than you might expect. That is on purpose. A good deal of the visit is education: showing your child how to brush at the brushing station, going through snacking and drinks, and answering your questions. A first visit for a baby or toddler is shorter and most of it is a conversation with you. Treatment appointments vary with what is being done, and we will tell you roughly how long to plan for when we book it.

Call, and you’ll get an honest answer about whether there is still time. Children’s appointments are longer than adult ones and the day is built around them, so arriving twenty minutes into a thirty minute slot often means rushing a child who needed the slow version. Sometimes it still works. Sometimes rebooking is genuinely the kinder answer.

We understand that life with children can be unpredictable, and sometimes plans change! If you need to cancel or reschedule your child’s appointment, we kindly ask for at least one full business day’s notice by phone or email whenever possible.

Appointment times, especially Saturdays and longer treatment visits, are in high demand. Providing advance notice allows us to offer that appointment to another child who may be waiting for dental care.

Missed appointments without any communication are not acceptable.

Families who fail to attend a scheduled appointment without notifying our office by phone or email may be required to:

Provide a written explanation: Email our office with a clear explanation of why the appointment was missed before requesting another booking.

Obtain a new referral: Patients receiving specialist care may be required to obtain a new referral from their family or general dentist before being considered for another appointment.

Repeated no-shows or failure to communicate with our team may affect our ability to offer future appointments.

We recognize that genuine emergencies can happen and will review exceptional circumstances individually.

Our commitment is to provide timely, accessible pediatric dental care. Every missed appointment without notice represents an opportunity another child could have had to receive much-needed treatment. We appreciate your cooperation in respecting appointment times and helping us care for more families.

Yes! We understand that busy families sometimes need a grandparent, caregiver, nanny, or trusted family member to bring their child to a dental appointment. However, requirements may vary depending on the type of appointment, the treatment being provided, and the preferences of your child’s pediatric dentist.

For routine hygiene and preventive appointments, another responsible adult aged 18 or older may accompany your child, provided that:

A parent or legal guardian has given prior written consent for the scheduled routine care.

Written authorization has been provided allowing the designated adult to accompany your child and assist with the appointment.

Our office has been informed in advance about who will be bringing your child.

For dental treatment or procedures requiring additional consent, the parent or legal guardian may need to be present, depending on the procedure and the treating dentist’s requirements.

For appointments involving sedation or general anesthesia, a consenting parent or legal guardian must be physically present. This ensures that informed consent can be obtained and that appropriate arrangements are in place for your child’s care and recovery.

We strongly encourage families to contact our administration team before the appointment if someone other than a parent or legal guardian will be attending. Our team can confirm the requirements with your child’s pediatric dentist and help ensure the appropriate consent forms are completed in advance.

Our goal is to make dental visits convenient for families while ensuring every child receives safe, properly authorized, and well-coordinated care.

Your child’s health and safety always come first. If your child develops a fever, cough, cold, respiratory infection, or other symptoms of illness before their dental appointment, please contact our office as soon as possible.

For routine dental visits, we may recommend rescheduling until your child is feeling better, especially if they have a fever or contagious illness.

For children scheduled for sedation or general anesthesia, even a mild respiratory illness may increase anesthesia risks. Symptoms such as coughing, congestion, fever, or difficulty breathing can increase the likelihood of respiratory complications during anesthesia. Our pediatric anesthesiologists and dental team will assess your child’s symptoms and determine whether it is safe to proceed.

What if the fever is caused by a dental infection? Sometimes, children requiring urgent dental treatment under general anesthesia may develop a fever because of an infected tooth. In these situations, postponing treatment could allow the infection to worsen.

Our team may recommend an in-person assessment at our surgical facility by the pediatric anesthesiologist and pediatric dentist to evaluate your child’s condition, determine whether the infection may be contributing to the fever, and decide on the safest treatment approach.

A fever does not automatically mean surgery must be cancelled, but it also does not guarantee that treatment can proceed. Every decision is based on your child’s individual health and clinical circumstances.

Please contact our office before arriving if your child is unwell. If your child develops significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or rapidly worsening symptoms, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Our goal is to provide timely dental treatment while ensuring your child’s health, comfort, and anesthesia safety are never compromised.

Yes. The records belong to your child, and you can ask for a copy or have them sent to another dental office. Call the clinic and ask, and you’ll be told what we need from you in writing. There may be a small charge for copying and transfer, and you will hear about that before anything is done.

Yes! Preparing for your child’s sedation or general anesthesia is an important part of ensuring a safe, comfortable, and well-planned experience.

At Children’s Dental Surgical Centre, every child receives individualized pre-operative instructions, including fasting requirements, medication guidance, and important information about what to expect on the day of surgery.

Before your child’s scheduled procedure, a member of our medical team will contact you, typically about one week in advance, to review their medical history. This includes any underlying health conditions, medications, allergies, previous anesthetic experiences, and recent illnesses. This pre-operative assessment is mandatory and must be completed before surgery can proceed.

We may also ask you to visit your child’s family doctor or pediatrician for an updated medical assessment or physical examination. This helps our pediatric anesthesiologists obtain a more complete understanding of your child’s overall health, including any medical conditions or concerns that may not be fully documented in their available Alberta electronic health records.

This additional information allows our anesthesia team to develop an individualized anesthetic plan, identify potential risks, and determine whether any further investigations or precautions are necessary.

Fasting instructions are especially important. Your child must follow the specific eating and drinking restrictions provided by our surgical team. Failure to follow these instructions can increase anesthesia risks and may result in surgery being postponed or cancelled.

Please also notify our team if your child develops a fever, cough, respiratory illness, or any significant change in health before their appointment.

Our goal is simple: thorough preparation, individualized anesthesia care, and the safest possible surgical experience for your child.

Free surface parking directly outside both clinics. No meters, no parkade, and no circling the block with a toddler in the back.

Yes. Both clinics have step-free access from the parking lot, and the North clinic building has both an elevator and stairs. Strollers and wheelchairs get in without a detour at either location. If your child uses a wheelchair or has mobility needs, say so when you book and the room will be one that works for you.

Whichever is easier to reach. All five pediatric specialists work at both, and the full range of care is available at each, so it makes no difference to the treatment. Both clinics run 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday to Saturday. The one practical difference is that the surgical centre is at the South location.

Dental emergencies can happen anytime, and knowing where to seek care is important.

If your child experiences a toothache, broken tooth, or other dental concern outside our regular office hours, please call our main office number. Our after-hours service can provide guidance and help determine whether urgent dental attention is needed.

However, some emergencies require immediate medical attention at Alberta Children’s Hospital rather than a dental clinic.

Go directly to the Emergency Department if your child experiences:

Severe facial or jaw swelling: Particularly swelling spreading toward the eyes or neck, or accompanied by fever.

Difficulty breathing or swallowing: This may indicate a serious infection affecting the airway. Call 911 immediately.

Uncontrolled bleeding: Heavy bleeding from the mouth or face that does not stop with firm pressure.

Significant facial or jaw trauma: Suspected jaw fractures, serious facial injuries, or trauma involving multiple teeth and surrounding structures.

Head injuries: Loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, confusion, or unusual drowsiness following an accident.

Severe dental infection: Fever accompanied by significant swelling, dehydration, lethargy, or a child who appears increasingly unwell.

What if my child’s permanent tooth gets knocked out?

This is a time-sensitive dental emergency! Hold the tooth by the crown, never the root. If it cannot be safely replanted, keep it moist in milk and seek emergency dental care immediately. Do not wait until Monday or for a callback. Never replant a baby tooth.

Our goal is to help your child receive the right care at the right time. For serious or life-threatening emergencies, call 911 or seek immediate emergency medical attention.

We always do our best to accommodate families, especially when a child needs urgent dental care! However, we recommend calling our office before arriving so our team can assess your child’s needs and confirm appointment availability.

For dental emergencies, we make every effort to provide timely care and may have appointment times reserved for children experiencing pain, infection, or dental injuries.

For new patient examinations and routine hygiene appointments, we generally recommend booking in advance. However, last-minute cancellations sometimes create openings throughout the day, and our team would be happy to let you know if an appointment becomes available.

At Children’s Dental Health Centre, our routine appointments include more than just checking and cleaning teeth. Our comprehensive prevention program focuses on oral health education, hands-on brushing instruction at our interactive toothbrushing stations, personalized dietary guidance, and a thorough examination by a pediatric dentist.

These appointments require dedicated time to ensure every child receives the attention, education, and care they deserve.

Looking for a last-minute appointment? Give us a call! With two Calgary locations and appointments available six days a week, including Saturdays, we’ll do our best to find a convenient time for your family.