Young children are most at risk from tooth decay. Give your kids the best start on a lifetime of good oral health with regular visits to a paediatric dentist combined with good daily care.
Our family dentists in Sydney CBD are fully qualified and experienced at providing dentistry for kids of all ages including toddlers. We'll help your little ones to feel as relaxed as possible during their visit to our Macquarie Street dental clinic.
To schedule a visit with a kids dentist Sydney or find out more about preventive dental care for children, drop us a line today. Call us on (02) 9221 1530 or make an appointment.
Good habits start early! It's recommended that children see a paediatric dentist no later than their first birthday or within 6 months of their first baby tooth erupting. This helps our children's dentist Sydney to spot any signs of possible oral health problems early and to recommend treatments or offer advice.
The earlier your kids visit a child dentist, the more used they'll be to dental visits and the more likely they'll look after their oral hygiene as they grow up. We recommend bringing even younger children along to your own check-ups to they can meet their paediatric dentist and get more familiar with the dental clinic environment.
On toddler dentist visits, we'll check their teeth using a dental mirror to make sure they're all coming through normally and look for any signs of decay or cavities. As they get more confident on return visits, we'll also examine their jaw and the soft tissues of the mouth and throat.
From the age of 6, your child's dentist will also start to check for signs of crowding or other possible orthodontic problems that could affect them when their permanent teeth develop. We also give children and their families advice about how to look after their teeth at home and lower their dental health risks.
As well as checking their teeth, your kid's dentist may recommend a preventive dental treatment to help protect them against decay or other problems. These might include:
If your child is at high risk of tooth decay, we may recommend a fluoride treatment.
Fluoride is applied to the tooth surfaces after professional teeth cleaning by experienced paediatric dentists and assistants. This naturally occurring substance helps to strengthen teeth against the bacteria that forms plaque and causes tooth decay.
If your child has pits or grooves on the biting surfaces of their teeth, we may recommend fissure sealants.
These are a protective layer 'painted' onto the chewing surface of teeth by your child's dentist. Sealing teeth helps prevent bacteria and food from getting trapped in spaces where a toothbrush can't reach.
Kids who play sport or other outdoor activities should wear a mouth guard.
Your paediatric dentist in Sydney CBD can design a custom mouthguard that fits perfectly over their teeth to lower the risk of serious injuries and dental emergencies.
If our dentist for children notices signs of tooth decay or another problem, we'll discuss the corrective treatments we think could help. Depending on the problem, we may recommend:
White fillings fill cavities in teeth to restore their normal shape and function, without affecting their appearance. Dentistry for kids typically uses high quality glass-ionomer fillings that also release fluoride over time, helping to protect your child's restored teeth from further damage.
Root canal therapy may be needed if tooth decay reaches the centre of your child's tooth, infecting the soft tissues of the dental pulp. This can cause severe pain and sensitivity if the infection isn't removed. The only alternative to a root canal is usually extracting the tooth.
Your paediatric dentist Sydney will always find ways to save a tooth when we can, but sometimes the damage is too severe and the only option is extraction. If a permanent tooth needs to be extracted, we'll recommend filling the gap to prevent nearby teeth from going crooked.
Dental care for children doesn't end at the dental clinic. Your children's dentist Sydney will also offer guidance on how to take better care of their teeth every day, if you need it.
Just like grown-ups, kids should brush their teeth twice a day, for 2 minutes each time. Young children will need your help brushing their teeth until they're old enough to move the brush properly.
You shouldn't use adult toothpaste for children under 6, as too much fluoride can cause stains to appear on the teeth (fluorosis). Instead, we recommend using low-fluoride children's toothpaste and making sure they don't swallow the toothpaste.
Yes, kids need to floss too! As soon as your child has 2 teeth in contact, you should gently clean between them to remove food and bacteria that their toothbrush doesn't reach.
High sugar foods and drinks increase the risk of tooth decay. We recommend limiting fruit juices, soft drinks and sugary snacks as much as possible and encouraging tooth-friendly alternatives such as fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products and lean meats.
Children and their families should drink plenty of water throughout the day to help rinse their mouths and lower the risk of tooth decay.
Regular check-ups with a paediatric dentist help us to spot warning signs of problems before they become more serious, avoiding unnecessary suffering and expense. We'll recommend the best visiting pattern for your child based on their oral health needs.
For more dental health tips, visit our Kids Corner.
Some Sydney paediatric dentistry is free for children and their families who meet the criteria for the government's Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CBDS).
This scheme offers up to $1,000 for general dental services if the child is aged 2–17 years and their parent or guardian receives an eligible Medicare payment.
If you're ready to schedule an appointment with a children's dentist Sydney, or you want to know more about CDBS and preventive dental treatments, call our team at Sydney Dental Surgeons on (02) 9221 1530. We hope to see you and your kids soon!
