Children’s Dentistry
At Gungahlin Family Dental, our experienced childrens’ dentists can have a look at your child’s teeth and make sure that their teeth are in the best condition possible for your children to thrive and be able to eat, speak and smile with confidence.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule
Your child may be eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS), which is a government program which entitles your child to $1000 worth of private dental care with certain providers every 2 years. Families that receive certain tax benefits are eligible for this program. At Gungahlin Family Dental, our dentists are CDBS providers, meaning your child may be eligible for check-ups, cleans, and most treatment required with no out-of-pocket costs.
Not sure if you’re eligible? Have our friendly receptionist check on it for you.
Want to talk about it?
Have one of our team members explain it to you now!
Find Out More
Learn more about the CDBS on the Services Australia website.
Not Eligible for CDBS?
Call or email our friendly receptionist by clicking the link above about our school holiday specials for kids.
Keeping Children’s Teeth Healthy!
First Visit
Our focus is on their experience – making your children as comfortable with the environment as possible. Showing our littlest patients around what we do and use to make sure their teeth are on the right track. Starting kids’ dental experiences early sets them up for a lifetime of good, low maintenance teeth.
When should your children have their first dental visit?
As soon as they have their teeth. This way, you, your child, and your dentist can work together to make sure your child is set up with the right habits, prevention, and identify any early problems or potential issues before they happen.
Complete Dental Health
Children often have trouble telling you if their teeth are hurting, so having their teeth regularly checked is important both to ensure they don’t have cavities, and to set them up for positive dental experiences in the future.
We can help discuss diet, habits and other tips to stay on top of possible future dental issues.
Prevention Focus
How can you help your kids at home to prevent cavities and promote healthy teeth? Here are some tips:
- Brushing needs to start as soon as teeth are coming out of the gums. The key is to be gentle but thorough and use an age appropriate toothpaste. There are kids’ toothpastes available for children under 6. If your child is young, help them brush or watch them to make sure they are removing all the plaque from their teeth.
- Avoid sugary foods and drinks where you can – nothing but water after brushing at night.
- Regular Dentist check-ups so we can make sure you’re on the right track.
Baby Teeth & Cavities?
Baby teeth cavities can be fixed with fillings, but our priorities are the adult tooth underneath coming through safe and sound. What we don’t want are infections affecting the growth and development of the adult teeth.
Cavities in baby teeth progress much faster than adult teeth, so they can very quickly turn from a small cavity that we can fill to a large cavity that causes an abscess or infection. Regular checkups help to prevent this.
Book an
Appointment
Don’t put off a visit any longer – set your children up with a lifetime of healthy, low maintenance teeth.
Book in with our friendly team and we can find the best way to look after you.
Preparing for your visit:
We want your child to be relaxed and engaged at their first visit:
- Try to use positive language to let them know we’re here to make sure their teeth are healthy and strong.
- If they’re anxious it might help to bring their own toothbrush or a toy to hold on to.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take my child to the dentist?
Did you know it’s important to have your kids’ teeth checked from as soon as their baby teeth start to come through? Starting kids’ dental experiences early sets them up for a lifetime of good, low maintenance teeth.
Children often have trouble telling you if their teeth are hurting, so having their teeth regularly checked is important both to ensure they don’t have cavities, and to set them up for positive dental experiences in the future.
How do I know if I’m eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS)?
If you’re unsure if you are eligible for the CDBS, we can check for you – call us on (02) 6262 0423 with your Medicare card number and we can find out for you.
Not sure how much you have left on your CDBS cap? Again, we are able to check for you and let you know, so please call us on (02) 6262 0423 or contact us via our enquiry form.
Do baby teeth need fillings?
If your child has decayed baby teeth, they do still need fillings. Baby teeth will usually eventually fall out, but it’s still important to try to keep them until it is the right time for them to go – or remove them if they are causing a risk to the developing adult teeth underneath.
If baby teeth become infected or are lost too early, it can cause the adult teeth to come through in the wrong place or develop abnormally. The best approach to baby teeth is prevention where possible, as small cavities in baby teeth can progress very quickly.
What can I do at home to prevent problems with my kids’ teeth?
Teeth need brushing as soon as the baby teeth come through. Use the age appropriate toothpaste for your child – there are kids’ toothpastes available for children under 6. If your child is young, help them brush or watch them to make sure they are removing all the plaque from their teeth.
Avoid sugary foods and drinks where possible – consider snacks like cheese and crackers instead, or plain milk or water to drink.
Have regular kids’ dental checkups with the dentist so we can check and clean your child’s teeth, and give advice on how to best look after your kids’ teeth.
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