Every August, the same thing happens at our clinic near Highgate Village. The last two weeks before Labour Day, the phone doesn’t stop — parents trying to squeeze in checkups for two or three kids before the first school bell rings. Some get in. Some end up waiting until October.

Here’s the secret from our front desk at Burnaby South Dental: the families who book in late July and early August get their pick of appointment times — after-camp afternoons, Saturday mornings, back-to-back slots for siblings. If you’re reading this with a September school start looming, this is your window.

Why a Dental Checkup Belongs on Your Back-to-School List

School supplies, new shoes, immunization records — the checklist is long. A dental exam deserves a spot near the top, and not just for tradition’s sake.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic condition in school-aged children, and dental pain is one of the leading reasons kids miss class. A cavity that’s a five-minute conversation in August can become a toothache during the first week of school — missed lessons for them, missed work for you, and a more involved (and more expensive) treatment than if it had been caught early.

A pre-school-year visit also resets the clock. If your child is seen now, their next routine checkup lands around spring break — two natural pauses in the school calendar, no missed class either time.

What We Check at a Back-to-School Exam

A checkup at our general dentistry appointment is more than a quick look and a sticker. For school-aged kids, we focus on:

New adult teeth. Between ages 6 and 12, kids lose baby teeth and gain permanent ones at a remarkable pace. We check that adult molars and incisors are erupting in the right place and on schedule.

Early decay. The grooves of newly erupted six-year and twelve-year molars are cavity magnets. We look for the chalky white spots that come before a cavity forms — the stage where better brushing and fluoride can still reverse the damage. If a filling is needed, we use tooth-coloured materials, as we covered in our recent post on catching cavities early.

Sealants. A thin protective coating on the chewing surfaces of new molars, applied in minutes with no freezing. For cavity-prone kids, sealants are some of the best value in preventative dentistry.

A professional cleaning. Even good brushers miss spots — usually along the gumline and the back molars. A cleaning removes the hardened plaque a toothbrush can’t.

Bite and alignment. If crowding or bite issues are developing, spotting them early gives you more options — and more time to plan.

Mouthguard fit for fall sports. If your child is signing up for hockey, soccer, or basketball this fall, ask us about a custom sports mouthguard. It’s far more comfortable than the boil-and-bite kind — which means kids actually wear it.

Not Just for Kids: Book the Whole Family

Here’s what busy parents tell us all the time: the kids’ teeth are looked after, but their own last checkup was… a while ago. September’s return to routine is the perfect reset for adults too. Our pediatric dentistry team sees the kids while a second chair handles mom or dad’s cleaning — one trip, whole family done. Many Highgate and Middlegate families make it a standing tradition: everyone’s checkup in the last weeks of summer.

Does CDCP Cover Back-to-School Checkups?

For many Burnaby families, yes. The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) covers eligible families without private dental insurance, and it includes exactly what a back-to-school visit involves: exams, cleanings, X-rays when needed, sealants, and fillings.

Burnaby South Dental accepts CDCP, and we can help you figure out whether your family qualifies and what your coverage looks like before your appointment — just mention it when you book. If you have workplace benefits instead, remember that many plans reset January 1; a fall checkup for the family helps you use this year’s coverage rather than lose it.

A Week-by-Week Plan for Burnaby Parents

Late July: Call to book. Ask for sibling back-to-back appointments if you have more than one child — it saves you a second trip down Kingsway.

Early August: Checkups and cleanings. Any small fillings or sealants get scheduled right away, with plenty of runway before September.

Late August: Follow-up treatment done, sports mouthguards fitted, everyone’s smile ready for the first-day photos.

September: Relax. Your next reminder from us won’t come until spring break.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should my child see the dentist?

Every six months for most children. Kids who are cavity-prone or wearing orthodontic appliances may benefit from more frequent visits — we’ll recommend a schedule based on your child’s needs.

My child is nervous about the dentist. What do you do differently?

Plenty. Short first visits, show-and-tell with the instruments, and no surprises. Our team sees children of all ages every day, and gentle care is the whole philosophy of our practice. If it’s your child’s very first visit, start with our guide to first dental visits.

Do you have appointments outside school hours?

We’re open Monday through Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm — Saturday mornings and late-August weekday afternoons are the most popular slots for families, so book early.

Where are you located?

At 6975 Kingsway #2 in Burnaby’s Highgate area — a few minutes from Highgate Village and an easy drive or bus ride from Middlegate, Edmonds, and Metrotown.

Do you take new patients?

Yes — new families from Highgate, Middlegate, and across South Burnaby are always welcome, including CDCP patients.

Book Before the August Rush

The best back-to-school checkup is the one that’s already booked. Call Burnaby South Dental at (604) 540-6000, email hi@burnabysouthdental.com, or request an appointment online — and start the school year with every smile in your house ready to go.