Looking and counting
The dentist looks around your mouth to see how your teeth and gums are doing.
- How many teeth do you have today?
- Are new ones on the way?
- Are your top and bottom teeth learning to fit together?
Read this one together
Pediatric Dentistry for West End Winnipeg Residents
Sit down with your child and go through this page side by side. Short kid-friendly lines sit next to notes for grown-ups, so a young reader can find out what a dentist does, and you can answer questions as they come up.
Let's find a time
Request an appointment
Story time, sort of
A Read-Aloud for West End Winnipeg Kids and Their Grown-Ups
For kids: a dentist is a person whose job is taking care of teeth. They count your teeth, look at how they’re growing, and show you how to keep them strong. You can ask them anything you want to know.
For grown-ups: children from West End Winnipeg, an area in the city, are seen at Winnipeg North Dental on McPhillips Street. Feel free to skip any part, and stop if your child loses interest. This isn’t meant to be a lesson.
Explore pediatric dentistry
For kids: you can ask
Wondering what something does? Go ahead and ask what it’s for.
For kids: bring a buddy
A favourite toy or blanket can come along and keep you company.
For grown-ups: go at their rate
Read one section today and another tomorrow, if that suits your child better.
What dentists do
The dentist’s job, explained for small people.
Grown-ups: not every child has all of these at one visit. What happens depends on age, comfort and what the dentist recommends after looking.
Helping teeth stay strong
Sometimes the dental team does a special job to protect your teeth, if it’s right for you.
- A cleaning polishes off what a toothbrush can miss
- Fluoride is a mineral that helps protect teeth
- An X-ray is a picture that shows the parts we can’t see
Grown-ups: if your child asks about something that isn’t on the page, a simple “let’s ask the dentist” is a fine answer.
What happens when
First, next, then, last.
Kids: you can have a rest or a pause if you need one. Grown-ups: every child’s pace is different, and a short look still counts.
Request your visit- 01
First, say hi
You’ll meet friendly people, and they’ll show you their tools and tell you what they do.
- 02
Next, open wide
The dentist has a look at your teeth and gums, for as long as you feel okay.
- 03
Then, some tooth care
You might get your teeth cleaned or have fluoride or a picture taken, if the dentist thinks it’s a good idea.
- 04
Last, the grown-up chat
Your grown-up hears about brushing, food and when you should come back for your next visit.
Practice at home
Play dentist before the real thing.
Take turns counting each other’s teeth, or let your child count a stuffed animal’s pretend ones. It’s an easy way to make the idea familiar. Stay away from promises that nothing will hurt, and leave out any tough dental stories you may have.
Grown-ups, a separate job for you: note medications, allergies, recent pain or injury, thumb or pacifier habits, and how your child communicates.
Kids, pick a question to ask
- How many teeth do I have?
- What does that tool do?
- Which teeth am I going to lose next?
- Am I brushing all the spots?
A light blue dental chair stretched out flat, and a patterned rug in front of a white reception counter.
Big feelings are allowed
It’s okay to feel nervous.
Kids: lots of children feel wiggly or worried at the dentist, and you can tell someone if you do. Grown-ups: let us know beforehand if your child is anxious. Brief explanations and gradual introductions are available, and the team will tell your child honestly what’s happening.
Kids: use your words
Say “I need a break” or put your hand up, and someone will listen.
Kids: the chair moves
It’s a special seat that can lean back, so the dentist has a good view of your teeth.
Grown-ups: stay even
Your calm, ordinary tone gives your child a cue that all of this is manageable.
The bit after the dentist
What was your favourite part?
Kids: tell someone what you did at the dentist, and show them your teeth. Grown-ups: ask an open question, and follow up on any brushing or food tips together, so your child feels they have a part in it.
01
Draw the visit
A picture of the chair or the dentist can be a fun way of retelling it.
02
Brush like a pro
Try out what the dentist showed you, with a grown-up there to help you reach the back.
03
Mark the calendar
Grown-ups can show kids on a calendar when the next tooth count is coming up.
Grown-ups: if your child says something hurts after you’ve returned home, call (204) 338-3003.
Talk with our team
Winnipeg North Dental
Unit-5 2358 Mcphillips Street, Winnipeg, MB R2V 4J6Get directions (opens in a new tab)Where the dentist is
West End Winnipeg Kids Visit Us on McPhillips Street
Your child’s appointment is at Winnipeg North Dental, Unit 5, 2358 McPhillips Street, Winnipeg. Grown-ups will find directions by following the link.
Grown-ups: the form is only a request, and it doesn’t save a time for you. The clinic will contact you, and the appointment gets confirmed from there.
Questions about coverage?
Talk with our team before your visit or learn about CDCP.
A little clarity before your visit
Your questions, answered.
Helpful details about pediatric dentistry in West End Winnipeg.
Ask our teamHow does a West End Winnipeg grown-up ask for an appointment?
Fill in this page’s request form with your child’s age, or call (204) 338-3003. If your child has a question for the dentist, you can note that too.
Grown-ups: how young can a child be for this kind of reading?
Use your judgment. Toddlers might only like hearing about counting teeth, while early readers may enjoy going through the questions and steps out loud themselves.
Kids ask: will my tooth get pulled out?
Probably not at a regular visit, and the dentist would explain it first if a tooth ever had a problem. Grown-ups: give your child honest answers, and leave the details to the team if you’re unsure.
Kids ask: why do I need to look after teeth that will fall out?
Baby teeth help you chew your food, talk and smile, and they save a spot for the big teeth coming later. A sick baby tooth can hurt, too, so it needs looking after.
Kids ask: what if I don’t want to open my mouth?
That’s okay, and you can tell the dentist. Grown-ups: a child who declines isn’t in trouble, and getting used to the place may be the right first step.
What should a grown-up do if a child breaks a tooth?
Phone the clinic promptly and describe what happened. Serious injury to the face, fainting or being knocked out, breathing difficulty or bleeding that keeps going all need emergency medical care first.
For the grown-ups
More to read after bedtime.
These pages offer more detail on check-ups, what happens with a cavity, and care for sudden tooth pain or injury.
Check-ups & Cleanings
Book dental check-ups and cleanings in Winnipeg for preventive exams, tartar removal, gum monitoring and personalized home-care guidance.
Explore serviceDental Fillings
Restore cavities, chips and worn areas with tooth-coloured dental fillings in Winnipeg. Learn when repair is needed and what happens during treatment.
Explore serviceEmergency Dentistry
Contact Winnipeg North Dental for urgent help with tooth pain, swelling, broken or knocked-out teeth, lost restorations and dental injuries.
Explore serviceHave an urgent concern? Call (204) 338-3003 to discuss availability.
Finished reading together?
Now try the real thing, at your child’s pace.
Request an appointment with your child’s age and any question they’d like answered. The clinic will reach out about timing.