Child Dentistry
Our children’s oral health is so important
Dental Care for your Children
Our aim at Contemporary Smiles is to make every visit enjoyable for your child and to build a relationship where the child is happy to attend the dentist well into adulthood.
Caring for children's teeth is important
At Contemporary Smiles a great deal of importance is placed on prevention, good oral hygiene and dietary habits from a young age. Good habits created in these formative years can prevent costly and uncomfortable dental problems well into adulthood. Establishing good oral habits early will go a long way, even beyond impressing the tooth fairy!
We recommend 6-monthly appointments to maintain optimum oral health from the age of 1; identifying and treating potential problems early on, while teaching children how to take care of their teeth will set them up for a lifetime of healthy smiles. Let’s work together in teaching your child proper oral hygiene and a healthy diet.
At Contemporary Smiles children are treated comprehensively and respectfully, examinations involve treating the child as a whole to monitor the development of the teeth, jaws and soft tissues. Primary teeth (baby teeth) help children speak clearly, chew food properly, hold space for the developing permanent teeth and set the stage for a lifetime of healthy smiles.
The Australian Dental Association recommends custom mouthguards for children playing any contact sport, the benefit of custom mouthguards are that they fit well, are comfortable and allow the player to breathe and speak with ease.
You can Book an Appointment with Contemporary Smiles Dental online, or your can Request A Callback, and we’ll give you a call to organise a date and time.
“All of our dental teams are very gentle when seeing children, and ensure they are relaxed and comfortable before carefully examining the inside of their mouth.”
Tips to keep your child’s teeth clean
Our Recommendations
Help and encourage your child to start brushing their teeth as soon as they get their first tooth, and supervise them up until they are 7-8 years old. Even after that, it’s important to keep an eye on their brushing habits.
More Suggestions
Brush your child’s teeth twice a day, using small circular motions. Make sure they brush their teeth after eating and before bed.
Use fluoride toothpaste that is appropriate for children, as this can help prevent tooth decay and strengthen the enamel.
Remind your child to brush for at least 2 minutes and not to swallow the toothpaste.
Establish a consistent tooth brushing routine, and praise your child when they do a good job.
Encourage your child to floss as soon as they have two teeth that are touching, and supervise them until they are around 10 years old.
Help your child develop strong teeth by ensuring they have a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid sugary foods like candy, cookies, and soda, and opt for fluoridated tap water instead.
A routine Check-Up & Clean should be booked, and includes:
A Comprehensive Oral Examination
- X-rays will be taken (if not already on file). These x-rays will reveal any abnormalities in your teeth and your supporting oral structure that may otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
- An examination of your lymph nodes will follow. Attention is paid to any pain, tenderness, & mobility.
- We will assess your jaw mobility, along with the surface area of your mouth and your lips.
- An assessment of your bite will be carried out in order to uncover potential areas of discomfort and potential for improvement.
- Significantly, we will conduct a full tooth record, noting the full condition of each of your individual teeth. This will determine the extent of any dental work that may be needed to ensure optimal oral health and wellbeing. Inta-oral photos of each tooth will be taken to substantiate these findings.
- An Assessment of your gum health and soft tissues will also be carried out.
Lastly, we’ll discuss all relevant findings with you, and communicate openly and constructively about the need for the development of a treatment plan.
X-rays (if we don't already have them on file)
We perform dental x-rays at our practice in Corrimal. These are images of your teeth and mouth that we use to evaluate your oral health and to identify problems like cavities, tooth decay and issue beneath the gum line.
Taking an x-ray is completely painless and on takes a matter of seconds. Once we have taken x-rays of your mouth, we keep these on file so we do not need to re-take them every time you visit our practice.
A Scale and Clean (usually booked separately)
The ”scaling” part of the procedure involves the use of a precision instrument called a ”Scaler” to remove the plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth.
The ultrasonic cleaner may also be used at this point to clean below the gum line.
Upon removal of any plaque and tartar build ups on your teeth, we’ll proceed to polish your teeth with a special variety of toothpaste that may feel a little gritty, but it helps to remove bacteria that may be still lingering on your teeth.
A good polish will also make your teeth look and feel exceptionally clean.
BOOK AN EXAM, OR REGULAR CHECK-UP & CLEAN
To book a professional exam, or regular check-up and clean, contact Contemporary Smiles Dental today.
Visiting the dentist
Regular Dental Checkups: Regular dental check-ups are essential, and it’s recommended to start them from the age of 1 or within 6 months of the first tooth appearing.
Always make sure to make dental visits a positive experience, and avoid using them as a threat for not brushing teeth or other behaviours.
Corrective Treatments: It’s important to schedule an appointment with the dentist if you notice any misalignment of the teeth or jaw as your child’s adult teeth grow through. The dentist will provide guidance on whether corrective treatment is necessary.
When to seek further help: If your child experiences any of the following symptoms, it’s recommended to consult the dentist:
- Bleeding, redness, or swelling of the gums,
- Pus coming from the gums,
- Persistent bad taste in the mouth,
- Abscesses (which can be located under the teeth and can be extremely painful).
What is the cost?
Dental visits are essential for everyone, yet only around half of Australians go to the dentist annually. With tooth decay becoming more prevalent in Australia, it’s crucial to ensure that dental care is accessible and affordable for your child.
The Australian Government provides coverage for most children’s dental costs via Medicare. To determine eligibility, you can visit the Child Dental Benefits Schedule website.
Private health insurance can be utilized by some individuals to cover some or all of their dental expenses. However, even those with insurance may have to pay a portion of the fees out of pocket, which is referred to as the ‘gap payment.’ This amount represents the difference between the dental provider’s fees and the amount the insurer is willing to pay.
Please call us on (02) 4283 5995 if you have any questions about your child’s dental costs and who covers them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our patients ask lots of questions. We’re glad you do as it means we can make your visit to the dentist a pleasant an enjoyable time. Here are some of the questions we frequently get asked:
How do I find the best dentist to visit?
With so many dentists to choose from, how do you know you’re choosing the right one? Just make sure your dentist is good at the following:
- Actively listens to you
- Educates you on treatments and oral health
- Respects your time and resources
- Keeps a tidy practice
- Doesn’t up-sell to you
- Gets to know you
- Follows-up with you
- Values you as a patient
Ultimately, the right dentist for you always gives the care that you and your family deserve.
Why is a dental health checkup so important?
Dental health check-ups are a vital part of your overall oral health regime. If you wish to maintain happy and healthy teeth and gums you should aim to book an examination, check-up and clean at least every 6 months.
During your check-up and clean, your dental professional will check your overall oral health for any trouble areas, and will remove any plague and tartar build-ups that you are unable to remove with normal brushing and flossing.
Is dental hygiene important to my overall health?
Your oral health is actually a window to your overall health, and problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. Poor oral health may contribute to a number of conditions, including heart disease, pneumonia, diabetes and endocarditis.
This makes it important to practice good oral health techniques every day. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day; floss daily; limit your sugar intake; replace your toothbrush every three months; and schedule regular dental check-ups and professional cleans.
What is the average cost of teeth cleaning?
Pricing does depend on a variety of factors, including location, overheads and variances in the methods used (not all fillings are the same). But something you should always look into before booking a check-up and clean is what is actually included in your dental check-up.
If you book your regular check-ups at Contemporary Smiles, you will receive the following treatments:
- a comprehensive oral exam
- a check-up and clean (existing patients)
- X-rays (if we don’t already have them on file).
Note: New patients at Contemporary Smiles will need to book in for a comprehensive initial examination with a dentist before a check-up and clean can be booked. This ensures we can provide you with the best treatment, and can identify any issues before they become a problem.
This would cost a total of $255.00 (although would be a much less if you have health insurance that covers dental treatments).
Price is obviously a factor, but is not the only important thing to look at when choosing a dentist for your next exam, check-up and clean.
