Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease affecting children in Australia. It is important to detect chronic dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease before they are allowed to develop into more serious conditions. That is why it is recommended that children visit the dentist every six months for a routine dental check-up and professional teeth cleaning.
Children are more susceptible to tooth ailments throughout their adolescent years. During this critical juncture, it is imperative to ensure that your children’s teeth, gums and mouth are checked for any underlying conditions that may signal future problems, which may entail further investigation or treatment.
Unfortunately, most of the dental ailments exhibit very subtle signs and symptoms that tend to escape the untrained eye. In fact, to detect some of these elusive symptoms may require special diagnostic tools used by dentists or dental hygienists such as x-ray.
Besides checking for cavities, our dentist will carefully inspect each tooth and perform a thorough cleaning in addition to other preventive treatments such as fluoride and fissure sealants. If any red flags are detected, the dentist is in the best position to deal with the problem – minor problems may even be swiftly treated during the same appointment.
It is important to know that most serious dental conditions begin as a small problem. If detected early, most serious ailments including periodontitis (an advanced stage of gum disease), tooth loss and even oral cancer are preventable.
You should view your child’s twice-yearly dental exam with the same level of importance you give to their immunization injections – both are critical preventative measures to ensure that your child is well protected or insulated from potentially dangerous chronic diseases.
As a parent, you have the primary caregiver’s duty of maintaining the dental health of your child. We at Molonglo Dental Surgery would like to become your trusted dental partner, to play a complementary role and help navigate your children through this critical dental development phase.
We cooperate with parents through several initiatives such as the following:
Children’s basic dental care education
This includes encouraging and teaching your child how to brush and floss their teeth. We make use of kid-friendly diagrams and models to make the lessons fun, engaging and easy to understand.
Children’s Dietary Advice for Healthy Teeth and Gums
Using easy-to-digest guides and charts, we can share practical tips and nutritional advice with parents on the type of food and drinks that kids are encouraged to consume as well as those to eat in moderation or avoid.
Oral Hygiene Fundamentals
It is important that parents learn the building blocks of maintaining a healthy dental lifestyle so they can impart these positive dental habits from a young age to last a lifetime.
At risk of sounding like a broken record, we cannot overstate the importance of bringing your child to the dentist every 6 months for a regular examination and cleaning. As your dental care professionals, it is our duty to improve the dental health of your kids and we take that responsibility very seriously.
It is important to establish a regular oral hygiene routine for your young ones so they can pick up positive lifelong habits.
For more information on how we can help your kids develop strong and healthy teeth for life, book a dental appointment with our friendly dentist at Molonglo Dental Surgery by calling 02 6287 1222.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The cost is typically around $150, which includes a comprehensive dental examination, professional cleaning, X-rays, and a fluoride treatment. Children eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) will be bulk-billed the entire cost, so there is no cost for eligible young patients.
Just like for adults, kids are also recommended to see a dentist every six months. Your family dentist might suggest more or less frequent visits depending on your child’s specific situation, based on their oral hygiene habits, diet, or history of dental issues. Regular check-ups help dentists to detect any problems early and keep your child's teeth in top shape.
The CDBS is a government initiative designed to support families with the cost of basic dental care. Eligible children aged between 2 and 17 can receive up to $1,132 in benefits over a two-year period. The CDBS initiative covers essential services like dental check-ups, professional cleans, X-rays, dental fillings, and some emergency treatments.
If your family receives Family Tax Benefit Part A or other specific government payments, your child is likely to be eligible for the CDBS. You would also have received a letter from the government informing about your child's eligibility. If you’re unsure whether or not your child is eligible or do not have the letter, we can still help you to verify your child's eligibility on the spot using your Medicare card. It’s a quick and hassle-free process that does not require any paperwork.
A kids’ dental clean includes the following: Gentle scaling to remove any plaque or tartar buildup; teeth polishing to make freshen and sparkle up the pearlies; fluoride varnish to strengthen enamel and protect against cavities. In addition, we also teach proper brushing techniques so your little one can maintain good oral care habits at home.
Yes. We believe that dental care should start from a young age, and we welcome children as little as six months old. These maiden visits while brief and gentle, are important as they focus on getting your child comfortable with the dental environment while educating parents on how to care for their milk and emerging permanent teeth.
Yes. At Molonglo Dental Surgery, we pride ourselves on being a child-friendly practice, with a strong focus on helping kids get comfortable with our very welcoming environment. From the use of our special Dinosaur Chair to employing creative distraction techniques and plenty of positive reinforcement, we understand how nerve-wrecking a dental visit can be for the young ones, and make every effort to help our little patients feel at ease. Our goal is to create a calm, positive experience that builds trust for future visits.
Molonglo Dental is committed to making dental visits a positive and calming experience for kids, no matter their level of anxiety. We offer a fun and welcoming environment, and a passionate kid-friendly team that is ready to work with you to build healthy habits early, so your child can enjoy a lifetime of confident smiles.