Kids' dental
As soon as a child turns two, it is time to visit the dentist or oral health therapist for an oral health assessment. Dentists know that there can be nervousness or fears and often work hard to make the visit a comfortable experience.
What happens on the first visit?
Your child will meet with us and will have an opportunity to get used to our high-tech dental chair. This consultation mainly involves just a visual inspection, making sure there is nothing unusual with the child’s teeth and gums. We will also count the child’s teeth using the dental mirror - a fun game that we have found usually fascinates the patient!
We will take time to answer any questions to create a gentle, positive experience that is often accompanied by plenty of giggles for both the child and the parent!
As well as doing an oral examination, we will assess the child’s growth and development and identify any risk of dental decay, as well as educating the child (and parent) on brushing techniques and the importance of healthy nutrition on teeth.
What is the next stage?
When the child is aged between four and six, we might decide to take a radiograph (X-ray). Digital radiographs are commonly used today which utilise much lower levels of radiation than traditional radiographs, making them a safer option for all ages. While we can see everything outside of the child’s teeth, an X-ray reveals what is between the teeth and under the gum line. As well as spotting any cavities, it also shows the number, position and size of teeth under the gums. If there is any crowding, this is an early sign of possible future orthodontic treatments.
Easy tips to be prepared
Kids can easily pick up on anxiety in their parents, so try to keep it light-hearted yourself to allay their fears. If a child has any concerns, it is important to explain that dental visits are a regular occurrence for everyone to help keep people healthy. Keep it matter-of-fact without using any negative words such as ‘pain’, ‘drill’ or ‘needle’.
Since kids are often exhausted after a busy day at day care, pre-school or school, it is generally best to book a morning appointment.
How can children keep their teeth healthy?
A little hands-on help can improve your child’s teeth in the early days. They will have been told by you and us that it is important to brush twice a day, but they generally need help to get the right technique – usually children need a parent’s help to brush and floss until they are seven or eight years of age.
Teach your child how to brush with a small, circular action while keeping the toothbrush angled at 45 degrees towards the gum line. Also, the child needs to start flossing once the teeth are touching – usually between the ages of two and three. Kids love a good routine so try to have teeth cleaning take place at the same time each day - for example after breakfast, and just before bed.
Also ensure your child has a variety of nutritious foods, particularly fruit and vegetables, and mainly drinks tap water, followed by milk. Try to avoid sugary or highly processed foods, and sugary drinks like juice or fizzy soda.
What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
In Australia, children aged between two and 18 years may have access to a means-test basic dental care through the public system, all part of the Commonwealth-funded Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). To check if your child is eligible for the CDBS go to the Department of Human Services website.
Benefits for basic dental services, including examinations, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions, are capped at $1,000 per child over two consecutive calendar years. Children will not even have to be on a waiting list – the young patient will be given the next available appointment.
For more information, call 132 150 or visit www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule.
What happens on the first visit?
Your child will meet with us and will have an opportunity to get used to our high-tech dental chair. This consultation mainly involves just a visual inspection, making sure there is nothing unusual with the child’s teeth and gums. We will also count the child’s teeth using the dental mirror - a fun game that we have found usually fascinates the patient!
We will take time to answer any questions to create a gentle, positive experience that is often accompanied by plenty of giggles for both the child and the parent!
As well as doing an oral examination, we will assess the child’s growth and development and identify any risk of dental decay, as well as educating the child (and parent) on brushing techniques and the importance of healthy nutrition on teeth.
What is the next stage?
When the child is aged between four and six, we might decide to take a radiograph (X-ray). Digital radiographs are commonly used today which utilise much lower levels of radiation than traditional radiographs, making them a safer option for all ages. While we can see everything outside of the child’s teeth, an X-ray reveals what is between the teeth and under the gum line. As well as spotting any cavities, it also shows the number, position and size of teeth under the gums. If there is any crowding, this is an early sign of possible future orthodontic treatments.
Easy tips to be prepared
Kids can easily pick up on anxiety in their parents, so try to keep it light-hearted yourself to allay their fears. If a child has any concerns, it is important to explain that dental visits are a regular occurrence for everyone to help keep people healthy. Keep it matter-of-fact without using any negative words such as ‘pain’, ‘drill’ or ‘needle’.
Since kids are often exhausted after a busy day at day care, pre-school or school, it is generally best to book a morning appointment.
How can children keep their teeth healthy?
A little hands-on help can improve your child’s teeth in the early days. They will have been told by you and us that it is important to brush twice a day, but they generally need help to get the right technique – usually children need a parent’s help to brush and floss until they are seven or eight years of age.
Teach your child how to brush with a small, circular action while keeping the toothbrush angled at 45 degrees towards the gum line. Also, the child needs to start flossing once the teeth are touching – usually between the ages of two and three. Kids love a good routine so try to have teeth cleaning take place at the same time each day - for example after breakfast, and just before bed.
Also ensure your child has a variety of nutritious foods, particularly fruit and vegetables, and mainly drinks tap water, followed by milk. Try to avoid sugary or highly processed foods, and sugary drinks like juice or fizzy soda.
What is the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
In Australia, children aged between two and 18 years may have access to a means-test basic dental care through the public system, all part of the Commonwealth-funded Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS). To check if your child is eligible for the CDBS go to the Department of Human Services website.
Benefits for basic dental services, including examinations, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions, are capped at $1,000 per child over two consecutive calendar years. Children will not even have to be on a waiting list – the young patient will be given the next available appointment.
For more information, call 132 150 or visit www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/child-dental-benefits-schedule.
