Every child deserves a dental experience that works for them

Absolutely! Every child deserves access to compassionate, individualized dental care, regardless of their abilities, medical needs, or developmental differences.

Our pediatric dental specialists have advanced training and experience caring for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), sensory sensitivities, developmental disabilities, behavioural challenges, and complex medical conditions. Many of our pediatric dentist have hospital experience bringing over 15 years of experience caring for children at various Children’s Hospital across North America.

We understand that traditional dental visits can sometimes feel overwhelming. That’s why we take an individualized approach, adapting appointments to your child’s communication style, sensory preferences, comfort level, and ability to cooperate.

Depending on your child’s needs, we may offer:

Sensory-aware appointments with adjustments to lighting, sounds, communication, and the treatment environment.

Gradual introductions and desensitization visits to help build familiarity, trust, and confidence.

Flexible treatment approaches that respect your child’s comfort and readiness.

Sedation and general anesthesia options when appropriate, including access to our accredited pediatric dental surgical centre for eligible children.

We encourage families to share their child’s specific needs, triggers, preferences, and previous dental experiences when booking so our team can prepare for a more positive visit.

Our goal isn’t to make every child fit into a traditional dental appointment. It’s to create a dental experience that works for your child.

Call us. That is one of the most common reasons families come here, and it usually says something about how that appointment was set up. It does not mean your child is untreatable. We will talk through what happened before you come in.

That’s okay! Building trust and comfort comes before dental treatment. Every child learns and adapts at their own pace.

We understand that sitting in a dental chair can be overwhelming for children with autism, sensory sensitivities, developmental differences, or dental anxiety. That’s why we offer a gradual, individualized approach to help children become familiar with the dental environment without pressure.

For some children, the first appointment may simply be a desensitization visit, where they explore the clinic, meet our team, and become comfortable with the surroundings without any dental treatment.

Depending on your child’s needs, we may incorporate:

Visual schedules and social stories to help children understand what to expect.

Gradual exposure and positive reinforcement to build comfort and confidence over multiple visits.

Sensory accommodations to reduce overwhelming sights, sounds, and sensations.

Collaboration with occupational therapists (OTs), caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to develop strategies that support your child’s individual needs.

Some children become comfortable after one visit, while others benefit from several appointments. There is no set timeline, and every step forward is meaningful.

If traditional dental treatment remains challenging, our pediatric specialists can also discuss sedation or general anesthesia when clinically appropriate.

Our goal isn’t simply to get your child into the dental chair. It’s to help them feel safe, understood, and confident receiving dental care, at a pace that works for them.

Every child deserves comfortable, safe dental care, even when traditional treatment isn’t possible.

For children with special healthcare needs, sensory sensitivities, developmental differences, or significant dental anxiety, we understand that dental treatment while awake may not always be realistic or appropriate.

In some cases, mild to moderate sedation using oral medication may help reduce anxiety and improve cooperation, allowing certain procedures to be completed more comfortably. However, oral sedation is not suitable for every child, and its effectiveness depends on individual needs, medical history, and the treatment required.

When a child cannot comfortably or safely tolerate treatment while awake, general anesthesia may be the most appropriate and compassionate option. It allows necessary dental treatment to be completed while your child is fully asleep, often in a single visit.

Our accredited pediatric dental surgical centre at our South location provides general anesthesia with a dedicated team of pediatric anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and respiratory therapists. Children with more complex medical needs may require treatment in a hospital setting, such as Alberta Children’s Hospital.

We carefully review your child’s medical history, individual needs, and available treatment options with your family before making a recommendation.

Our priority is never to force a child through an overwhelming experience. It’s to find the safest, most comfortable, and most appropriate way to provide the dental care they need.

Yes! Our team has strong connections with Alberta Children’s Hospital and extensive experience caring for children with special healthcare needs and medical complexities.

Most of our pediatric dental specialists hold privileges at Alberta Children’s Hospital, where they collaborate with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to provide specialized dental care for children with complex medical and developmental needs.

We also work closely with pediatric anesthesiologists and other healthcare professionals at Alberta Children’s Hospital to help coordinate safe, appropriate, and individualized care.

For children who require additional medical support or hospital-based treatment, we can help coordinate their dental care within the appropriate setting.

Our goal is to provide seamless access to specialized pediatric dental care, ensuring every child receives the right level of support in the safest and most appropriate environment.

Not necessarily, and it depends what you are coming for. If you are establishing your child as a new patient and joining our prevention program, no referral is needed. If your child already has a dentist and you want a specialist consultation about one concern, we ask that dentist for a referral. Either way, tell us about your child’s needs when you book so we can prepare for the visit.