Children’s Dentistry

Here at Narangba Dental, we love seeing kids and we think we're pretty good at it.  Children can certainly be challenging to treat. And by the same token, we find most kids are great in the chair and can be very entertaining to talk to. It never ceases to amaze us all the funny things kids tend to say and do.

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) recommends children start attending for regular dental appointments within 6 months of their 1st tooth appearing, or when they reach 12 months of age. Dental health is an ongoing process throughout a child’s life and behaviours learnt when they are young tend to stick with them throughout life. And this means everyone will be smiling from ear to ear, as your child will have teeth that are happy and healthy, well into adulthood.

Please remember that children love to copy their parents, so when you attend for your regular check up, bring them along and get them use to the dental environment. They can go for a ride in the dental chair and explore some of the gadgets or instruments we have and use such as mirrors, gloves and masks.  

A lot can be achieved in your child's 1st dental visit, we will take a full comprehensive medical history, and depending on the individual circumstances, a possible discussion about:

• Teething or tooth eruption
• Brushing techniques that will help you and your child
• Tooth decay and risk factors
• Their bite (occlusion)
• Habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting or skeletal issues that may require early intervention
• Dietary advice regarding the effects of sugars and acids on teeth
• Airway issues and appropriate referral to an Paediatric Ear, Nose and Throat surgeon (ENT) if necessary

We cannot stress this enough. Children need to be taught the importance of brushing and flossing. Our team at Narangba Dental will certainly be involved in achieving this goal. However, as parents, you will play a much more important role in teaching, helping, supervising and guiding them throughout their early years in looking after their teeth. It’s never too early to begin teaching good oral hygiene to your children. We know that kids can often put a fight when it comes to cleaning their teeth. But the reality is if it’s not done regularly and properly, tooth decay can result in avoidable treatment.

And on a final note, we are probably all familiar with the effects of sugar and acids on teeth by now. This is really important as tooth decay amongst children is once again on the rise. Please try to limit the consumption of sugar in their diet. You will be surprised at the high levels of sugar and acids in many foods and drinks available these days, especially the ones that are marketed as “healthy”. We can discuss this with you and your child regarding dietary strategies as well as healthier alternatives at their regular dental visit.