Safe dentistry for children
At dental wellness, we deeply believe in the value of helping parents build the foundations that are required for a child to enjoy optimal oral health, now and into the future. By teaching children at an early age about the reasons why dental hygiene is important, and at the same time supporting the growth and development of their teeth through proper nutrition, you can help your child maximise the chance that they’ll keep their natural teeth in good working order for life.
Our Oral Health Therapists are University trained to assess and manage your children from the ages 4 – 17 and are also fully trained hygienists, undertaking ongoing professional development and registration similar to a general Dentist.
All hygiene visits for children are individually tailored to particular needs or dental issues. Our team are extremely gentle practitioners who have been working with children for many years. Their role involves working alongside our Dentists, to which they can refer to, in the instances of more complex or ‘out of the ordinary’ cases.
Your child’s jaw position and breathing patterns will also be assessed as part of our pre-orthodontic assessment. We encourage early interventon in such issues and will refer to like-minded orthodontists. Xylitol products are introduced to reduce the risk of tooth decay.
If your children can reach adulthood with strong, healthy, unfilled teeth then – barring accidents – their dental future should be very simple and inexpensive… just routine check-ups and regular cleaning. This is a great gift you can give to your children!
Our aim at dental wellness is to detect any problems early and treat them with minimal intervention, so that extensive treatment is not necessary in later adult years.
Here are some of the most frequently asked question regarding safe dentistry for children
When should my child first visit a dentist?
The exact timing of when your child’s first dental visit varies based on circumstances particular to the individual child. Generally speaking, by the age of 2-3 your child should have visited a dental practitioner. This age is pivotal to ensure an early positive relationship with a dentist and because many developmental conditions or diseases can be displayed early. Early diagnosis and, if required, early minimal intervention is essential to maintain a healthy mouth and a positive dental experience.
Regular dentist visits are also an important in maintaining a healthy and positive dental experience. The enamel that coats baby teeth is thinner than that of adult teeth and can therefore be more vulnerable to food acids, and small problem areas can become big very quickly.
What happens at a young child’s dental appointment?
This can vary depending on the child’s needs or dental issues. Usually there is a visual check, sometimes a clean and, if required, a digital X-ray for further diagnosis. The use of digital X-rays, where necessary, can help identify disease or infection that may be compromising your child’s whole body health. Brushing and flossing techniques are usually explained depending on the individual needs of the child.
What if my child has special needs?
The dental management of children with higher care or special needs requirements can be complex both from home and in chair at the dental clinic. We recognise that there are several hurdles for parents in terms of home care like the ability to brush and floss and obviously each child is different and a dental consultation is the best starting point to determine what the right advice is for your child.
When should my child see an orthodontist?
Early orthodontic assessment often reduces the need for later more complex treatment. The age for orthodontic intervention and treatment varies dependent on things individual to your child including their particular orthodontic issue(s) and their physical, cognitive and emotional development. Some treatment can start as early as six and some can be left until adulthood.
What types of orthodontic appliance will my child need?
The types of treatment or appliances used in orthodontic correction varies depending on the above factors and can also vary depending on the appliances the orthodontic practice offers.
Some appliances are designed to create space where there is crowding or a poorly developed jaw whereas some are designed to reduce poor functional habits such as thumb/finger sucking and encourage nasal breathing.
dental wellness refers to a number of like-minded clinicians who offer a range of state of the art orthodontic options depending on your child’s needs.
Contact Us Today
We would love to hear from you.
Our mission is simple: we want to help you create a safer, healthy, beautiful smile.
Please call (07) 3511 1399 to reach our reception team who will do their best to address your concerns, answer your questions and book a convenient appointment. Alternatively, request your appointment online or send us a message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.