Children's dentistry in Moorooka

Their first visit

We suggest bringing your child in around their first birthday, or soon after their first baby teeth come through. Starting early means problems are caught while they’re small, and the dentist becomes a normal, friendly part of growing up.

The first visit is mostly about getting to know us. Your child meets the dentist, sees the room and the chair, and we have a gentle look at how their teeth and jaw are developing. They go home with a certificate for their first dental visit.

Looking after their teeth at home

What to use changes as they grow. This follows Queensland Health and Better Health Channel guidance:

• First tooth to 18 months: brush twice a day with a soft children’s toothbrush and water. No toothpaste unless we’ve suggested it.
• 18 months to 6 years: a pea-sized amount of children’s (low-fluoride) toothpaste, twice a day.
• From 6 years: regular fluoride toothpaste.

Get them to spit the toothpaste out but not rinse — what’s left keeps protecting the teeth. Most children need a hand with brushing until they’re about eight.

Helping them feel ready

Talk about the visit simply and positively beforehand: the dentist will count their teeth and check they’re healthy. Try to avoid words like “hurt” or “needle”, even to reassure them — they tend to plant the worry. Morning appointments, when they’re not tired, often go best. And if you’re nervous about the dentist yourself, that’s fine; just try not to pass it on.

Fissure sealants

The chewing surfaces of back teeth have deep grooves where food and bacteria collect. A fissure sealant is a thin, tooth-coloured coating that seals those grooves to help prevent decay.

Sealants work best on adult back teeth soon after they come through. Putting one on is quick and doesn’t hurt: we clean the tooth and paint the sealant on. We’ll tell you after a check-up whether your child would benefit.

Mouthguards for sport

If your child plays contact sport, a mouthguard made to fit their teeth makes a chipped, broken or knocked-out tooth much less likely. Because their mouth is still growing, it’s worth getting a new one fitted as their teeth change.

Checking their bite

At check-ups we keep an eye on how your child’s teeth and jaws are lining up. If we think orthodontic treatment could help, we’ll explain the options and the right time to start.

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule

The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a Medicare program that pays for basic dental care for eligible children aged 0 to 17 — check-ups, x-rays, cleans, fissure sealants, fillings, root canal treatment and extractions. It doesn’t cover orthodontics or cosmetic treatment.

A child can be eligible if they’re on Medicare and they (or their family) receive certain government payments, such as Family Tax Benefit Part A. You don’t need to apply: eligible families get a letter. Each eligible child can use a capped amount over two calendar years, and the government updates the cap each January. You can check who’s eligible and the current amount on the Services Australia website.

We bulk-bill eligible children under the CDBS, so there’s nothing to pay for covered treatment. The CDBS isn’t automatic and doesn’t cover every service, so we confirm your child’s eligibility and remaining balance before treatment begins. Services Australia explains how to use the Child Dental Benefits Schedule.