Children’s Dental Care
What is the value in bringing my young toddler?
Oral hygiene is important in early years, to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Children should start to visit the dental practice from about 1 or 2 years of age, so bring them along with you to your check-ups. The aim of the visits is to familiarise them with the surroundings and make them feel comfortable well before any dental check up or treatment is required.
Our team understands that the first appointment should be fun and pleasant with the aim for your child to return. The first visit involves riding in the dental chair, counting teeth and chat with parents regarding oral hygiene for their children. With regular visits, our dentist can detect any dental problems in their very early stages and provide any necessary treatment, before the problems developing, which will require more complex dental treatment.
Tips for Good Oral Hygiene
- Put your child to bed without a bottle if still bottle feeding.
- If your child uses a dummy do not put anything sweet on it. Rinse dummies under water only.
- Children up to the age of 17 months do not need toothpaste. Clean with soft brush or cloth twice daily.
- From ages 18 months to five years use a pea size amount of low fluoride children’s toothpaste.
- Everyone six years and older can use a pea size amount adult toothpaste.
- Once a month, life your child’s top lip to check for early signs of decay. The beginning of tooth decay appears as white lines near the gum line that cannot be removed by daily brushing.
Oral Health Therapists
What do Oral Health Therapists do?
Oral Health Therapists are specially trained to care for children and adolescents under 18 years old. They are competent and experienced in many aspects of general dentistry including dental examinations and diagnosis, radiographs, cleaning and polishing of teeth, application of fissure sealants. They also offer dental treatments for children and adolescents under 18 years old, such as administration of local anesthetic and restoration of decayed primary and secondary teeth. In addition, they have been qualified to provide preventive care for all ages to help maintain their oral health and reduce the need for major dental treatment.
Many of our patients, including parents comment that our oral health therapist is gentle and friendly. She has an ability to put patients at ease, relaxed and comfortable. She is liked by children and patients of all age group.