comprehensive childrens dental treatments

First Dental Appointment at a Friendly Family Dentist

With any first visit to the dentist there can be apprehension for both you and your child. From your child’s perspective visiting the dentist could be quite scary. It’s easy to see why: being taken to an unfamiliar place and made to sit still while a stranger places unfamiliar instruments in their mouth does sound scary. Thankfully it doesn’t have to be that way! At About Smiles your child’s first appointment is all about establishing a good, positive relationship with their family dentist, so we can care for their teeth and their wellbeing.
We place an emphasis on making your child’s first experience with dental care a positive experience. As a family dentist the initial appointment will focus on meeting you and your child. We will get to know one another and make sure your child is comfortable and catered for both during the appointment and with our fun kids’ area. If your child requires special attention or assistance, request to see our Paediatric Specialist who specialises in handling children that are unwilling to cooperate, have extensive carries or are particularly timid.
This means not only do we assess your child’s individual needs, we make sure your child will associate a trip to the dentist as a positive experience. Ultimately making your next check-up easier, since your child will come into it without fear and with positive memories of previous visits.

If your child has never seen a dentist before or you are considering switching from another practice, you can expect diligent care from About Smiles. Your child’s first appointment will be about their overall wellbeing and comfort, in addition to their individual dental health requirements.

We treat each first appointment with a great deal of care, because properly caring for young teeth sets the groundwork for good oral health. Why? It’s important to understand that baby teeth are not only important for chewing and speech, they aid in proper jaw development and reserve space for permanent teeth to come through.

Depending on the age of your child an initial appointment may involve:

For older children: introductions, explanations about what will happen during the appointment and making them aware they can stop any time they feel uncomfortable
Assessing your child’s “bite” and its alignment
Checking for any early decay, gum, jaw or tissue issues
Discussing the oral health basics that, as a parent, you need to be aware of and keep an eye out for, such as the need for regular check-ups, general hygiene practices and developmental milestones

Our Child Friendly Facility

Not only do we have the latest in dental technology to deliver the highest standard of simple and advanced dental care, we have a lovely dedicated kids’ area in our Chatswood surgery. This area is devoted to providing your children an entertaining and positive space to wait for their appointment and learn more about the importance of good dental hygiene. The area has access to colouring books, kids’ TV, toys and more – so their experience of the dentist will be positive and your waiting time easier.

Additionally we offer sedation options for patients who may be nervous about treatment. Our team also have a reassuring bedside manner to ensure your comfort when you visit our clinics.

BOOK APPOINTMENT

Tips to Take Home

Good oral hygiene, as we’re sure you know, starts with positive and regular habits. By starting your kids early you can help them establish these habits that will continue for the rest of their life and make the trips they do have to take to the dentist simpler.

From the age of two a child can begin brushing their teeth with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, supervising to ensure they don’t swallow. It’s advisable to have them brush their teeth twice a day for around two minutes each time. Making sure they not only get the top and front of each tooth, but the backs, gum-lines and tongue too.

When it comes to flossing, as soon as two teeth sit side-by-side in their mouth and touch your child can begin. Be careful to make sure they use the correct technique, a gentle up and down motion between each gap is enough. If you can get them into a habit of flossing once a day, perhaps before bed, it can go a long way towards preventing cavities and complications.

About Smiles in the Community

About Smiles is active in the community, visiting local schools to promote good oral health with what we call ‘Tooth Fairy Days’. On these ‘Tooth Fairy Days’ we teach kids the importance of dental hygiene and the connection it has to their overall health and wellbeing. With each school visit the kids get to take home a ‘Build a Lifetime of Smiles’ kit to encourage good oral health habits.

About Smiles has also provided resources and support the Cancer Council and other charities.