We welcome patients of all ages at both Personal Dental Care and Adelaide Dental Centre! Children’s Dentistry for our dental team is dedicating ourselves to the oral health care of children from infancy right through the teenage years. We want to help for care for your child’s teeth and gums throughout all the stages of life so they can enjoy a happy and healthy mouth in order to play, laugh, grow and smile.
Unfortunately, there are many problems that we can face from an early age that are not always obvious. We recommend that you bring your little one in for their first visit around the age of 18 months old.
However, we do encourage you to bring them along with you beforehand to help them get used to the sights, sounds and smells associated with the dental practice so it is familiar to them when it comes time for their turn. If you are ever unsure about something, we are only a phone call away.
Children are always developing and do not have proper manual dexterity until the ages of 10 to 12 years old. In the earlier year’s parents need to brush and floss teeth for your children. As they get older you need to assist them. Eventually you will just need to supervise or check on them until they are old enough to have the capacity to do everything by themselves. It is the early years which are most important for development and learning good habits. Whether cleaning their teeth properly, having nice manners or doing their homework!
Children begin to get their first set of teeth, also known as baby or deciduous teeth, during the first 6 months of life. By the age of 6 or 7 years old, they start to lose their first set of teeth, which eventually are replaced by secondary, permanent or “adult” teeth.
A leading infectious disease in children is ECC or Early Childhood Caries. Without the proper dental care many children present with this problem which can cause lifetime pain and complications. A primary cause of this in babies and toddlers is going to sleep with or giving milk bottles before bed. Milk like fruit has natural sugar in it with soaks the teeth over-night. This silently does damage, which is often covered by the lips, and not discovered until it is too late. We strongly recommended weening babies and toddlers off milk bottles at night-time as soon as possible.
We believe that prevention is always better than trying to treat the disease. Help us to prevent tooth decay and gum disease in your child by bringing them in regularly for their routine clean and check-up. If you have general questions whilst you are pregnant about what you should do dentally after our baby is born, we are happy to provide you with information. In South Australia we have a program called Lift the Lip. Once a week it is recommended to lift the lips to properly see the baby teeth underneath. From the photo above you can see some white and brown marks and/or spots developing on the teeth. This is the beginning of tooth decay and it is advised to bring your child in to the dentist as soon as possible for assessment and possible treatment if necessary.
If your child has had an accident, please call us straight away so we can make sure everything is okay. We also offer relative analgesia (RA) also known as nitrous oxide or happy gas for extremely nervous and anxious patients. If necessary, for very extension treatment and babies and toddlers we can also refer them to one of our friendly Paediatric Specialists.
Medicare also has a program called the Child Dental Benefits Schedule also known as the CDBS. Where $1000 is granted to eligible children up to the age of 18 years old over 2 calendar years. What do we need from you?
- Current Medicare Card details (if this changes for any reason, like if you receive a new card, you need to update this with us as it will say you are no longer eligible)
- Sign a consent form each calendar year that is scanned into your child’s file to say you have agreed to have their treatment done under the CDBS.
If your child is longer eligible for the CDBS you must contact Medicare directly. Unfortunately, we are legally unable to do this on your behalf due to privacy policies that we must respect and uphold.
Our friendly team is here to help you in every way we can. Come and see us for an appointment today and let us know what we can do for your child. Or if you just have a general enquiry please give us a call and chat to on of our lovely reception staff.
Children’s Dentistry Factsheets
Childrens Oral Health Factsheet
Terrible Teething, Soothing Your Teething Tot
Tooth Decay, Does Your Child Have This Disease