CHILDREN’S DENTISTRY

Helping your child develop good oral hygiene habits for life

We welcome patients of all ages at Sydney Park Dental. Our dentists in Erskineville are trained and experienced in paediatric dentistry, and we take care to make your child’s dental visit as pleasant as possible.

We know that good habits start young. That’s why we encourage kids of all ages to take good care of their teeth and gums by demonstrating correct brushing techniques and educating kids and their parents about oral health dangers.

Just because baby teeth are going to fall out eventually, that doesn’t mean you can ignore them. We offer a number of preventive treatments for children that can help reduce the risk of tooth decay and other dental problems, as well as general treatments such as fillings and extractions.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT

Click Here or call us on (02) 8084 7170 to book an appointment at our Erskineville dental clinic. Our friendly team will respond to you within 1 business day.

When should children visit the dentist?

Children’s teeth are more vulnerable to tooth decay and damage than adult teeth, because they’re smaller and the enamel is thinner. That’s why it’s important to arrange regular check-ups with your dentist, ideally every 6 months.

At Sydney Park Dental, we recommend that children have their first dental visit around 6 months after they grow their first baby tooth, or by 1 year of age. This gives our dentists the chance to monitor that their teeth are developing properly and to respond to any signs of decay or other problems as soon as possible.

Learn more about infant dental care

What happens at their appointment?

Our friendly staff will make sure your child feels as happy and relaxed as possible during their visit. Young children can sit on their parent or guardian’s lap while our dentists check their mouth, while older children will feel comfortable sitting in our plush dental chair.

We’ll give your child a complete oral health assessment to check that their teeth and gums are healthy and developing normally. This may involve a dental x-ray, though this may be avoided for younger children and we’ll make sure your child is protected.

If we think your child needs a little help with their oral hygiene, we’ll demonstrate the right way to brush and floss their teeth and may make other recommendations to children and their parents. If plaque is present on their teeth, we’ll carefully remove it and apply a safe level of fluoride to their teeth to strengthen them against bacteria.

What children’s dental treatments do you offer?

If we think your child could benefit from a dental treatment, we’ll give you all the details about what it involves, including any risks, so you can make an informed decision.

Through our wide range of children’s dentistry treatments, we believe we can instill healthy oral health habits for your child to last lifetime.

We offer corrective treatments as well as preventive treatments to help protect your child’s teeth from decay and injury. Read more about our treatments below.

Fissure sealants

Children’s teeth are the most vulnerable to decay. As well as making sure they brush their teeth twice a day, and limiting the amount of sugary snacks and drinks they consume, we can help lower the risk of decay by applying fissure sealants.

Fissure sealants are used to fill in the small pits and grooves (fissures) on the surfaces of their teeth. Leftover food and bacteria can get trapped in these grooves, leading to cavities or infections.

Applying fissure sealants is quick, safe and won’t cause your child any pain. We recommend fissure sealants for baby teeth, but we can also apply sealants to permanent teeth once they come through.

Fillings

If any of your child’s teeth are already decayed, or have been chipped or cracked, we may be able to repair the damage with a filling.

Your child will be awake during the procedure, which is performed using local anaesthetic to numb their mouth and block pain signals. Your child may feel discomfort during the treatment, and we’ll advise you about food and drink that should be avoided to give them the best chance of a speedy recovery.

Once a filling has been placed, the treated tooth should look, feel and function just like a normal tooth. It’s important that your child continues to follow good oral hygiene and keeps up with their regular dental visits to help keep tooth decay at bay.

Extractions

Sometimes, a tooth may be too badly decayed or damaged to repair with a filling. In these cases, we may have no choice but to recommend an extraction.

Our dentists will always try to save a healthy tooth if possible, as a missing tooth can weaken a child’s mouth and affect how the neighbouring teeth develop. If a baby tooth is extracted, this may affect the growth of the permanent tooth underneath. If a permanent tooth needs to be extracted, we’ll discuss options for replacing it and restoring your child’s smile and helping their mouth to function normally.

Extractions are performed using local anaesthesia to numb feelings of pain. The extraction procedure is usually straightforward, but may involve oral surgery if our dentists need to access the root below the gum. Children may feel some pain and discomfort after an extraction, which can be managed with pain relief medication. We’ll also give you instructions to help your child through their recovery period.

Mouthguards

Sport and outdoor activities are part of a healthy, active lifestyle, but they can also put your child’s teeth at risk of injury. That’s why we recommend that your child wears a mouthguard during risky activities such as rugby, soccer and even skateboarding. This helps to cushion their teeth against impacts and prevents teeth from being damaged or knocked out.

You can buy mouthguards in stores, but a custom-fitted mouthguard provided by our dentists can offer greater protection. We’ll take an impression of your child’s teeth and create a mouthguard that’s a perfect fit and more comfortable to wear.

What do children’s dental treatments cost?

Children’s dental care is subsidised by the Australian Government through the CBDS. We can check your eligibility for you. Simply speak to our friendly front desk staff.

Check up and Clean:

0-10 years $100
11-16 years $150

If your child needs another treatment, this may be partially covered by your health insurance. We’ll make sure you have all the information about treatment costs during your consultation, and you’re always welcome to ask us any questions.

Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a government program that provides children ages 2-17 years access to $1000 in dental services in a period of two consecutive calendar years. Benefits cover a wide range of basic dental services including examinations, cleaning, root canals and much more.

To be eligible, a child must be aged 2-17 years old, have Medicare, and be part of a family that receives Family Tax Benefit Part A. Once you know your child is eligible, you can book an appointment with us under the Child Dental Benefits scheme.

For more information please visit the NSW Health website or contact Medicare.