Dentalgarten's mission is to empower parents and parents-to-be with dental knowledge to strive for a cavity-free future.
We believe goals become lifetime habits by blending preventive strategies with families' lifestyle preferences in a well-paced learning environment.
Where did the mission of Dentalgarten come from? Let me tell you a story that shaped this journey. During my residency at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, I encountered a moment that I will never forget. A 10-month-old baby boy, perfectly healthy, came for his first dental visit. But to my surprise, every one of his 8 baby teeth were full of large cavities. What shocked me even more was how fast the cavities had formed — his teeth had only been in his mouth for four months! Cavities are mostly preventable, so how did this happen? How did this little boy slip through the cracks?
These 2 questions stayed with me for years: How can dentists better help parents stop cavities before they even start? And how can we make prevention something everyone can access?
Alas, this baby boy underwent sleep dentistry at the hospital to treat his cavities. I remember during the short consultation appointment, there was so much information given to his parents: how to prepare for sleep dentistry, forms to sign, and a very quick oral hygiene instruction. I could see how overwhelmed they were. I wondered whether I could learn to be a more effective dental health coach and figure out ways to teach healthy dental habits that stuck for a lifetime.
That is when my mission began. I read articles and took numerous courses on motivational interviewing. My mind burst with ideas: courses I could teach, in-clinic handouts, take-home educational kids' activities, healthy recipes for new parents in survival mode—all aimed at educating during pregnancy and early childhood.
My passion led to the creation of Dentalgarten. Dentalgarten focusses on education and counselling that guides you along your child’s dental journey. It’s a platform dedicated to helping families build healthy, lifelong habits and make dental care approachable, effective and even fun!
