{"id":600,"date":"2026-07-20T01:49:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T01:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/?p=600"},"modified":"2026-07-20T01:49:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T01:49:07","slug":"pediatric-holistic-smiles-a-whole-child-approach-to-kids-dentistry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/pediatric-holistic-smiles-a-whole-child-approach-to-kids-dentistry\/","title":{"rendered":"Pediatric Holistic Smiles: A Whole-Child Approach to Kids&#8217; Dentistry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<!-- ============================================================\n  PEDIATRIC HOLISTIC SMILES \u2014 WordPress-ready article\n  For doctorserge.com\n \n  HOW TO POST:\n  Paste this whole block into a Custom HTML block (Gutenberg)\n  or the Text\/HTML tab of the Classic editor. All CSS is scoped\n  to .ds-pedi so it will not collide with your theme. 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class=\"eyebrow\">Holistic Family Dentistry \u00b7 Vancouver<\/span>\n<h2>Holistic Children&#8217;s Dentistry<\/h2>\n \n<p class=\"lede\">Children aren&#8217;t small adults \u2014 and their dental care shouldn&#8217;t be a shrunken version of grown-up dentistry. A holistic approach starts earlier, drills less, and treats a child&#8217;s mouth as part of how their whole body grows, breathes, sleeps, and eats. Here&#8217;s what that looks like in practice.<\/p>\n \n<p>Most parents want the same two things: healthy teeth and a child who isn&#8217;t afraid of the dentist. Holistic pediatric care pursues both at once. It leans on prevention and the mouth&#8217;s own ability to heal early damage, chooses materials with a parent&#8217;s questions in mind, and pays attention to signals \u2014 like how a child breathes at night \u2014 that a purely tooth-by-tooth checkup can miss.<\/p>\n \n<p>This isn&#8217;t about rejecting proven dentistry. It&#8217;s about being conservative, informed, and gentle: doing the least that solves the problem, explaining the options honestly, and coordinating with the other people who care for your child&#8217;s health.<\/p>\n \n<figure>\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 760 250\" width=\"100%\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"A whole-child view: the mouth connected to nutrition, breathing and sleep, growth, and lifelong habits\">\n  <defs>\n    <style>\n      .wc-t{font:700 15px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#183b41;}\n      .wc-l{font:600 13px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#183b41;}\n      .wc-s{font:11px 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;fill:#4a6a6e;}\n    <\/style>\n  <\/defs>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"30\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-t\">One mouth, connected to the whole child<\/text>\n  <!-- center -->\n  <circle cx=\"380\" cy=\"140\" r=\"46\" fill=\"#127e7a\"><\/circle>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"136\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:700 14px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;\">The<\/text>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"152\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:700 14px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;\">Smile<\/text>\n  <!-- spokes -->\n  <g stroke=\"#2fa4a0\" stroke-width=\"2\">\n    <line x1=\"334\" y1=\"140\" x2=\"170\" y2=\"90\"><\/line>\n    <line x1=\"334\" y1=\"140\" x2=\"170\" y2=\"190\"><\/line>\n    <line x1=\"426\" y1=\"140\" x2=\"590\" y2=\"90\"><\/line>\n    <line x1=\"426\" y1=\"140\" x2=\"590\" y2=\"190\"><\/line>\n  <\/g>\n  <!-- nodes -->\n  <g>\n    <rect x=\"40\" y=\"66\" width=\"130\" height=\"48\" rx=\"12\" fill=\"#e7f6f3\" stroke=\"#cfe6e1\"><\/rect>\n    <text x=\"105\" y=\"88\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-l\">Nutrition<\/text>\n    <text x=\"105\" y=\"104\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-s\">sugar &amp; snacking<\/text>\n \n    <rect x=\"40\" y=\"166\" width=\"130\" height=\"48\" rx=\"12\" fill=\"#e7f6f3\" stroke=\"#cfe6e1\"><\/rect>\n    <text x=\"105\" y=\"188\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-l\">Breathing &amp; Sleep<\/text>\n    <text x=\"105\" y=\"204\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-s\">airway, mouth breathing<\/text>\n \n    <rect x=\"590\" y=\"66\" width=\"130\" height=\"48\" rx=\"12\" fill=\"#fff1ea\" stroke=\"#ffd9cb\"><\/rect>\n    <text x=\"655\" y=\"88\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-l\">Growth<\/text>\n    <text x=\"655\" y=\"104\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-s\">jaw &amp; face development<\/text>\n \n    <rect x=\"590\" y=\"166\" width=\"130\" height=\"48\" rx=\"12\" fill=\"#fff1ea\" stroke=\"#ffd9cb\"><\/rect>\n    <text x=\"655\" y=\"188\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-l\">Habits<\/text>\n    <text x=\"655\" y=\"204\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"wc-s\">calm, lifelong care<\/text>\n  <\/g>\n<\/svg>\n<figcaption>Figure 1 \u2014 In holistic pediatric care, the smile is a window into how the whole child is growing.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n \n<h2>1. Materials chosen with a parent&#8217;s questions in mind<\/h2>\n \n<p>When a child needs a filling or a sealant, the material matters \u2014 and thoughtful parents ask about it. A holistic practice makes those choices transparent rather than automatic.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>Mercury-free, always.<\/strong> Our practice has been mercury-free since 2005. We don&#8217;t place silver-mercury (amalgam) fillings in children or anyone else, using tooth-colored, biocompatible materials instead.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>BPA-conscious sealants and composites.<\/strong> Dental sealants are one of the best cavity-prevention tools we have for the deep grooves of new molars. Some parents have read about BPA (bisphenol-A) in older sealant products. Modern materials have addressed this, and where BPA-free options exist we&#8217;re glad to use them and to walk you through the choice.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>Fluoride: your informed decision.<\/strong> Fluoride remains the conventional standard for strengthening enamel, and it&#8217;s effective. We also work with families who prefer to minimize or avoid it, offering remineralization-focused alternatives such as hydroxyapatite and a strong emphasis on diet and hygiene. Our job is to give you accurate information \u2014 including the trade-offs \u2014 and support your decision.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"tip\">\n<strong>Parent tip:<\/strong> There are no wrong questions about what goes in your child&#8217;s mouth. Bring your list. A holistic practice should welcome it, not brush it off.\n<\/div>\n \n<div class=\"twrap\">\n<table>\n  <caption>Table 1 \u2014 How conventional and holistic choices compare for common children&#8217;s treatments. Every case is individual and confirmed at your visit.<\/caption>\n  <thead>\n    <tr><th>Need<\/th><th>Conventional default<\/th><th>Holistic-minded option<\/th><\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr><td>Filling material<\/td><td>Amalgam or standard composite<\/td><td>Mercury-free, biocompatible composite; BPA-free where available<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Groove protection<\/td><td>Standard sealant<\/td><td>BPA-free sealant, minimally applied<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Enamel support<\/td><td>Fluoride varnish<\/td><td>Fluoride by choice, or hydroxyapatite + diet-first plan<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Early decay<\/td><td>Drill &amp; fill<\/td><td>Watch, remineralize, or arrest before drilling<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Comfort<\/td><td>Treat the tooth<\/td><td>Treat the child \u2014 pacing, trust, gentle technique<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n \n<h2>2. Remineralization first: give small problems a chance to heal<\/h2>\n \n<p>Enamel isn&#8217;t simply passive. Early, chalky &#8220;white spot&#8221; lesions \u2014 the very first sign of decay \u2014 can often be halted or reversed before they ever become a cavity that needs a drill. This is where holistic and modern preventive dentistry strongly agree: the least invasive treatment that works is the best one.<\/p>\n \n<p>Remineralization-first care means we may recommend watching a small spot, improving the daily routine, adjusting snacking patterns, and using enamel-supporting products \u2014 then re-checking \u2014 rather than reaching for the handpiece on day one. Not every spot can be saved this way, but many can, and a saved tooth surface is always better than a repaired one.<\/p>\n \n<figure>\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 760 220\" width=\"100%\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"The remineralization cycle: acid weakens enamel, then saliva, minerals and reduced sugar rebuild it\">\n  <defs>\n    <style>\n      .rm-t{font:700 15px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#183b41;}\n      .rm-l{font:600 13px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#fff;}\n      .rm-s{font:11px 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;fill:#4a6a6e;}\n    <\/style>\n    <marker id=\"arw\" markerWidth=\"10\" markerHeight=\"10\" refX=\"6\" refY=\"3\" orient=\"auto\">\n      <path d=\"M0,0 L6,3 L0,6 Z\" fill=\"#127e7a\"><\/path>\n    <\/marker>\n  <\/defs>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"28\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"rm-t\">The daily tug-of-war on a child&#8217;s enamel<\/text>\n \n  <!-- demineralize -->\n  <rect x=\"70\" y=\"70\" width=\"250\" height=\"90\" rx=\"16\" fill=\"#ff7a59\"><\/rect>\n  <text x=\"195\" y=\"102\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"rm-l\">Acid attack<\/text>\n  <text x=\"195\" y=\"124\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:11px 'Segoe UI';\">sugary, sticky, frequent snacks<\/text>\n  <text x=\"195\" y=\"140\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:11px 'Segoe UI';\">\u2192 minerals leave enamel<\/text>\n \n  <!-- remineralize -->\n  <rect x=\"440\" y=\"70\" width=\"250\" height=\"90\" rx=\"16\" fill=\"#127e7a\"><\/rect>\n  <text x=\"565\" y=\"102\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"rm-l\">Repair<\/text>\n  <text x=\"565\" y=\"124\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:11px 'Segoe UI';\">saliva, minerals, fewer sugar hits<\/text>\n  <text x=\"565\" y=\"140\" text-anchor=\"middle\" fill=\"#fff\" style=\"font:11px 'Segoe UI';\">\u2192 minerals return to enamel<\/text>\n \n  <!-- arrows -->\n  <path d=\"M325,95 C380,80 380,80 435,95\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#127e7a\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" marker-end=\"url(#arw)\"><\/path>\n  <path d=\"M435,138 C380,158 380,158 325,138\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#ff7a59\" stroke-width=\"2.5\" marker-end=\"url(#arw)\"><\/path>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"188\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"rm-s\">Tip the balance toward repair, and early spots can heal before they become cavities.<\/text>\n<\/svg>\n<figcaption>Figure 2 \u2014 Cavities are the result of losing this balance over time. Holistic care works to tip it back.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n \n<h2>3. Nutrition: the part of dentistry that happens at your kitchen table<\/h2>\n \n<p>Here&#8217;s a truth conventional and holistic dentists share but families rarely hear clearly: <em>how often<\/em> a child eats sugar matters even more than how much. Each sugar exposure starts an acid clock. Sipping juice all afternoon or grazing on crackers keeps the mouth acidic for hours; the same amount eaten at one sitting gives enamel long stretches to recover.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"twrap\">\n<table>\n  <caption>Table 2 \u2014 A simple way to read snack risk. It&#8217;s about frequency and stickiness, not guilt.<\/caption>\n  <thead>\n    <tr><th>Lower risk<\/th><th>Higher risk<\/th><th>Why<\/th><\/tr>\n  <\/thead>\n  <tbody>\n    <tr><td>Cheese, plain yogurt, nuts<\/td><td>Gummies, fruit leather, dried fruit<\/td><td>Sticky sugars cling to grooves<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Water between meals<\/td><td>Juice or milk sipped all day<\/td><td>Constant sipping = constant acid<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Fresh fruit with a meal<\/td><td>Crackers &amp; sweets grazed alone<\/td><td>Meals trigger saliva that buffers acid<\/td><\/tr>\n    <tr><td>Sweets right after dinner<\/td><td>Sweets spread across the day<\/td><td>Fewer, grouped exposures let enamel recover<\/td><\/tr>\n  <\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n \n<div class=\"tip\">\n<strong>The one habit worth building:<\/strong> water as the between-meal drink, and treats grouped with meals rather than grazed. It does more for a child&#8217;s teeth than almost anything that happens in our chair.\n<\/div>\n \n<h2>4. Airway, breathing &amp; jaw development<\/h2>\n \n<p>This is where a whole-child view earns its keep. A child&#8217;s jaws and face are still growing, and the way they breathe helps shape that growth. Persistent mouth breathing, snoring, restless sleep, or a tongue-tie that limits movement can all show up first as things a dentist notices \u2014 crowding, a narrow palate, an open bite, dark circles, daytime tiredness.<\/p>\n \n<p>We don&#8217;t diagnose sleep disorders from the dental chair, and we&#8217;re careful not to overstate what a dental exam can tell you. But we do screen for these signs early, because the window to guide growth is widest in childhood. When something looks worth a closer look, we say so and help you find the right specialist \u2014 an ENT, a myofunctional therapist, a physician, or a sleep evaluation.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"panel\">\n<h3>Signs worth mentioning at your child&#8217;s visit<\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin:0;\">Breathes through the mouth by day or night \u00b7 snores or sleeps restlessly \u00b7 has trouble with certain sounds or eating \u00b7 crowded or protruding front teeth \u00b7 a narrow, high palate \u00b7 frequent tiredness or focus struggles. None of these are alarming on their own \u2014 but together they&#8217;re worth a conversation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \n<h2>5. Gentler ways to handle decay when it happens<\/h2>\n \n<p>Even with great prevention, kids get cavities. Holistic care asks whether there&#8217;s a way to treat them that&#8217;s less invasive, less frightening, and still effective.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>Silver diamine fluoride (SDF)<\/strong> is a brush-on liquid that can stop a cavity in its tracks \u2014 no drill, no needle. It&#8217;s especially useful for very young or anxious children, or for a baby tooth that will be lost before long. Its main trade-off is that it darkens the treated spot, so we talk through where it makes sense.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>Ozone<\/strong> is offered by some holistic practices as an adjunct to reduce bacteria in an early lesion. The research is still emerging and we present it honestly as a complement to good care, not a guaranteed cure.<\/p>\n \n<p><strong>Minimal-intervention fillings<\/strong> remove only what&#8217;s decayed and preserve healthy tooth, using tooth-colored biocompatible materials. When a tooth genuinely needs restoration, doing it well and conservatively is the holistic choice.<\/p>\n \n<h2>6. A calm first visit \u2014 and habits that last a lifetime<\/h2>\n \n<p>The single most valuable thing we can give a young child isn&#8217;t a treatment. It&#8217;s the belief that the dentist is a safe, friendly place. A child who trusts the chair at age three becomes a teenager who keeps their appointments and an adult who doesn&#8217;t avoid care until something hurts.<\/p>\n \n<p>That&#8217;s why we recommend a first visit by around a child&#8217;s first birthday, or when the first teeth appear \u2014 early, easy, and mostly about meeting us, counting teeth, and coaching parents. Each visit is paced to the child, using plain &#8220;show-tell-do&#8221; language and lots of choice, so trust builds instead of fear.<\/p>\n \n<figure>\n<svg viewBox=\"0 0 760 250\" width=\"100%\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" role=\"img\" aria-label=\"A gentle timeline from first tooth through the teen years, showing the focus of care at each stage\">\n  <defs>\n    <style>\n      .tl-t{font:700 15px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#183b41;}\n      .tl-a{font:700 13px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#fff;}\n      .tl-h{font:700 13px 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;fill:#183b41;}\n      .tl-s{font:11px 'Segoe UI',sans-serif;fill:#4a6a6e;}\n    <\/style>\n  <\/defs>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"28\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-t\">A gentle timeline of children&#8217;s care<\/text>\n  <line x1=\"70\" y1=\"120\" x2=\"690\" y2=\"120\" stroke=\"#cfe6e1\" stroke-width=\"4\"><\/line>\n \n  <!-- stops -->\n  <g>\n    <circle cx=\"130\" cy=\"120\" r=\"26\" fill=\"#127e7a\"><\/circle><text x=\"130\" y=\"125\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-a\">~1 yr<\/text>\n    <text x=\"130\" y=\"72\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-h\">First visit<\/text>\n    <text x=\"130\" y=\"164\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">meet us,<\/text>\n    <text x=\"130\" y=\"178\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">coach parents<\/text>\n  <\/g>\n  <g>\n    <circle cx=\"315\" cy=\"120\" r=\"26\" fill=\"#2fa4a0\"><\/circle><text x=\"315\" y=\"125\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-a\">2\u20135<\/text>\n    <text x=\"315\" y=\"72\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-h\">Preschool<\/text>\n    <text x=\"315\" y=\"164\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">habits, diet,<\/text>\n    <text x=\"315\" y=\"178\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">gentle checkups<\/text>\n  <\/g>\n  <g>\n    <circle cx=\"500\" cy=\"120\" r=\"26\" fill=\"#ff7a59\"><\/circle><text x=\"500\" y=\"125\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-a\">6\u201312<\/text>\n    <text x=\"500\" y=\"72\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-h\">Molars &amp; mix<\/text>\n    <text x=\"500\" y=\"164\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">sealants, growth,<\/text>\n    <text x=\"500\" y=\"178\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">airway screening<\/text>\n  <\/g>\n  <g>\n    <circle cx=\"665\" cy=\"120\" r=\"26\" fill=\"#e85f3d\"><\/circle><text x=\"665\" y=\"125\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-a\">13+<\/text>\n    <text x=\"665\" y=\"72\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-h\">Teen<\/text>\n    <text x=\"665\" y=\"164\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">independence,<\/text>\n    <text x=\"665\" y=\"178\" text-anchor=\"middle\" class=\"tl-s\">cosmetic care<\/text>\n  <\/g>\n<\/svg>\n<figcaption>Figure 3 \u2014 Care shifts with each stage, but the goal never changes: a healthy mouth and a child who feels safe.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n \n<h2>7. When we loop in your naturopath<\/h2>\n \n<p>Many families in our practice already work with a naturopathic physician on nutrition, sleep, or overall wellness. A holistic dental practice is a natural partner in that circle of care. With your permission, we&#8217;re glad to coordinate \u2014 sharing what we see in your child&#8217;s mouth and folding dental guidance into the bigger picture your ND is building. Whole-child care works best when the people providing it are talking to each other.<\/p>\n \n<h2>Family care options<\/h2>\n \n<p>Every child is different, so we start with a conversation rather than a package. That said, here&#8217;s how care commonly comes together by age and goal.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"cards\">\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <span class=\"tag\">Ages 1\u20135<\/span>\n    <h3>Gentle Start<\/h3>\n    <ul>\n      <li>First-visit &amp; get-to-know-you exam<\/li>\n      <li>Parent coaching on brushing &amp; diet<\/li>\n      <li>Remineralization-first monitoring<\/li>\n      <li>Fluoride-by-choice discussion<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <span class=\"tag\">Ages 6\u201312<\/span>\n    <h3>Growing Smile<\/h3>\n    <ul>\n      <li>BPA-free sealants for new molars<\/li>\n      <li>Growth &amp; airway screening<\/li>\n      <li>SDF or minimal-intervention care as needed<\/li>\n      <li>Habit &amp; nutrition check-ins<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <span class=\"tag\">Teens 13+<\/span>\n    <h3>Confident &amp; Independent<\/h3>\n    <ul>\n      <li>Coaching for self-directed care<\/li>\n      <li>Biocompatible, conservative treatment<\/li>\n      <li>Gentle cosmetic options when wanted<\/li>\n      <li>Bridge to holistic adult care<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n  <div class=\"card\">\n    <span class=\"tag\">Whole family<\/span>\n    <h3>Family Wellness<\/h3>\n    <ul>\n      <li>Coordinated visits for siblings<\/li>\n      <li>Shared prevention roadmap<\/li>\n      <li>Naturopath coordination on request<\/li>\n      <li>One trusted, mercury-free home<\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n \n<h2>Common questions from parents<\/h2>\n \n<h3>When should my child first see a dentist?<\/h3>\n<p>Around the first birthday, or when the first tooth appears. Early visits are easy and mostly about prevention and building comfort \u2014 not treatment.<\/p>\n \n<h3>Do you have to use fluoride?<\/h3>\n<p>No. Fluoride is the conventional standard and it&#8217;s effective, but we support families who prefer to minimize or avoid it, using remineralization-focused alternatives and a strong diet-and-hygiene plan. We&#8217;ll give you the honest trade-offs so you can decide.<\/p>\n \n<h3>My child is anxious. Can you still help?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes \u2014 anxious children are exactly who gentle, paced care is designed for. We move at your child&#8217;s speed and often use no-drill options like SDF where they fit, so early visits build trust rather than fear.<\/p>\n \n<h3>Are baby teeth even worth treating? They fall out anyway.<\/h3>\n<p>They&#8217;re worth it. Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth, help with speech and eating, and untreated decay can be painful and can affect the developing tooth beneath. How we treat them, though, does account for how long they&#8217;ll be around.<\/p>\n \n<div class=\"cta\">\n  <p style=\"font-size:1.25em;font-weight:700;\">Ready for a calmer kind of children&#8217;s dentistry?<\/p>\n  <p>Dr. Serge Agafontsev, DMD \u00b7 Holistic Cosmetic &amp; Family Dentistry \u00b7 Mercury-free since 2005<\/p>\n  <p>66 Keefer Place, Downtown Vancouver<\/p>\n  <a href=\"https:\/\/doctorserge.com\/contact\">Book a Family Consultation<\/a>\n<\/div>\n \n<p class=\"note\">This article is for general information and doesn&#8217;t replace an individual dental examination. Screening observations are not diagnoses; conditions such as airway or sleep concerns are evaluated and diagnosed by the appropriate medical specialists. Treatment recommendations, material choices, and their suitability vary by child and are confirmed at your visit.<\/p>\n \n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Holistic Family Dentistry \u00b7 Vancouver Holistic Children&#8217;s Dentistry Children aren&#8217;t small adults \u2014 and their dental care shouldn&#8217;t be a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,11,8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-holistic-dentistry","category-holistic-pediatric-dentistry","category-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=600"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":601,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/600\/revisions\/601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.doctorserge.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}