Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Zachary Wong
Dr. Zachary Wong was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. After high school at Ross Sheppard, he commenced his post-secondary education at the University of Alberta, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, obtaining a Bachelor of Medical Sciences Degree (BMedSci) and a Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree (DDS).
He spent time in Edmonton and Grande Prairie practicing general dentistry where he developed an urge to seek higher education working with children in the field of pediatric dentistry. He then obtained a Master of Science in Craniofacial Science Degree and a Diploma in Pediatric Dentistry (Dip. Ped) at the University of British Columbia and British Columbia Children’s Hospital.
He then practiced Pediatric Dentistry in Calgary and Vancouver before deciding to make his way back to his hometown. He is excited to see the children of Edmonton and those with special health care needs establish a dental home.
Dr. Wong is a Board-Certified Specialist in Pediatric Dentistry, a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada (FRCD(C)) and is an active member of the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (CAPD), the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), Alberta Dental Association (ADA), the College of Dental Surgeons of Alberta (CDSA) and the Canadian Dental Association (CDA).
Getting to know more about your Child’s Pediatric Dentist
Question: What about your family?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: I have a beautiful wife and a lil cute girl named Stella at home.
Question: Why Pediatric Dentistry?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: I wanted to specialize because I wanted to try to offer the best care I could to children. I always found fulfillment in my work when I saw children learn to cope at the dental visit. Nothing beats getting a hug or a high-five from a child.
Question: What the best thing you like about your job?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: Watching the kids/patients grow from an infant to a toddler, then transitioning to school, then to adolescence. Especially when a child was extremely nervous during their first visit, then through great experiences with my team and I, we are able to build trust and have positive experiences for life.
Question: What is your least favorite part of Pediatric Dentistry?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: Seeing a child for an emergency who has had some sort of trauma to the face… it breaks my heart when I see a child in pain… especially from a traumatic injury. Even though I have the experience, knowledge and skill to deal with such injuries, I still hate seeing them.
Question: What the coolest part of being a specialist in Pediatric Dentistry?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: Every day is a different day! Even with the same child, they will have a different temperament between visits. You really get to deal with a lot of people being a kids’ dentist. You have to really tailor your appointments to each child’s needs on that day to be the best pediatric dentist.
Question: How do you work with families to provide the best care?
Dr. Wong’s Answer: I enjoy offering various options in my treatment plans. For example, I offer composite (white) filling, a stainless steel (silver) crown or a zirconia (white) crown to restore teeth. I also offer various options for sedation such as nitrous oxide, oral sedation and general anesthetic. I find oral sedation is really helpful for families as it makes treatment more manageable and affordable. In addition, I understand it’s sometimes hard to get to appointments on weekdays, so that’s why the office is open Saturdays. I know that for some families, direct billing to insurance is a must for dentistry for children.
Meet your team of experts at Children First Dental
Kelsey
Kelsey
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Leanne
Leanne
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Richelle
Richelle
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Charmaine
Charmaine
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About The Specialty
What is the speciality of Pediatric Dentistry?
We focus on the oral health care of children of various ages, from infancy to adolescence. We focus on preventative care (checkups, cleanings and oral hygiene instruction). We treat all sorts of issues such as cavities/caries, pathology, habits, orthodontic concerns, growth and development of the teeth and jaws, and other dental issues. We are especially equipped to handle children who are anxious at the dentist.
When should my first visit be?
At Children First Dental, we suggest bringing in your child to see our pediatric dentistry team at age 1 or within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth. This is to help establish what we in dentistry call a “Dental Home” where children can receive comprehensive care as they grow.
How much education is needed to become a pediatric dentist?
Our specialty of Pediatric Dentistry requires someone to first graduate from dental school and then pediatric dentistry graduate school. The length of study for pediatric dentistry can be anywhere from 2-3 years depending on which school you study at. Dr. Wong completed his Master of Science and Diploma in Pediatric Dentistry at the University of British Columbia which is a 3-year hospital based program and only 1 of 4 English speaking programs in Canada.