Children's dentistry in Box Hill North
The aim with a young child is straightforward: make the dentist an ordinary, unremarkable place to go, long before anything needs doing.
When to start, and what the first visits look like
Current guidance is that a child should see a dentist by their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth appearing. That first visit is not about treatment. It is about the child sitting in the chair, having a quick look, and leaving without anything unpleasant happening — which is what makes the next visit easy.
As they get older, the appointments build up gradually: counting teeth, a ride in the chair, a polish, then X-rays when they are old enough to manage them. We explain what we are doing in words a child can follow, and we do not spring anything on them.
Parents are welcome to stay in the room. If your child is anxious, or has had a difficult experience elsewhere, tell us when you book so we can allow more time and take it at their pace.
What children need from a dentist
Most of it is prevention and habit-building rather than treatment.
Check-ups from age one
Early, short and low-key. We watch how the teeth and jaws are developing and pick up problems while they are small.
Fissure sealants
A protective coating in the grooves of new adult molars, usually around ages six and twelve, where decay most often starts.
Fluoride varnish
Applied where a child is at raised risk of decay, to strengthen enamel. Quick, and no injection involved.
Sports mouthguards
Custom-made and remade as they grow. Considerably better fitting than the boil-and-bite type.
Fillings for baby teeth
Baby teeth matter. They hold space for the adult teeth and an untreated abscess in one can affect the tooth forming underneath.
Watching development
Crowding, bite problems and late or missing teeth are easier to plan for when they are spotted early. We refer for orthodontic assessment when it is warranted.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule is a Commonwealth scheme that provides a capped amount of benefits for basic dental services over a two-year period for eligible children. Eligibility depends on age and on the family receiving certain government payments. Services Australia determines eligibility, not the practice.
We treat eligible children under the scheme. Ring us with your Medicare details and we can check your child’s eligibility and remaining balance before the appointment, so you know where you stand. The scheme covers examinations, X-rays, cleans, fissure sealants, fillings, extractions and root canals on baby teeth. It does not cover orthodontic or cosmetic work.
For children who are not eligible, we claim through HICAPS at the appointment and give you a written itemised quote before any treatment.
Common questions
When should my child first see a dentist?
By their first birthday, or within six months of the first tooth coming through. The visit is short and is mostly about familiarity.
Do baby teeth really need filling?
Often yes. They hold the space for the adult teeth, they are needed for eating and speech, and an untreated infection can damage the adult tooth developing beneath.
My child is frightened of the dentist. What can you do?
Tell us when you book and we will allow extra time. We explain each step before it happens, agree a stop signal, and will not push on if your child has had enough. Sometimes the first appointment is nothing more than a look and a chat.
Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?
Eligibility is determined by Services Australia based on age and family payments. Ring us with your Medicare details and we can check the current balance for you.
How much toothpaste should a young child use?
A smear for under-threes and a pea-sized amount after that, with brushing supervised until they have the coordination to do it properly themselves — usually around age seven or eight.
Related pages
Other parts of the site people usually read alongside this one.
Sealants, mouthguards, night splints and fluoride, matched to your own risk.
Examinations, cleans and X-rays — the six-month visit that prevents most of the rest.
Claimed at the appointment — you pay the gap, not the full fee up front.
Book your child in
579 Middleborough Rd, Box Hill North VIC 3129. Off-street parking right at the door, which helps with a pram.
This page is general information and not a diagnosis. Your treatment depends on an examination by a registered dental practitioner.