Children’s Dentistry

Morphett Vale Dental Care is a Family Practice. We enjoy treating the entire family from children to grandparents. Whilst we usually recommend that we start seeing children for their first visit at around 3 years, we like to educate mothers during pregnancy on how to prevent dental problems for their child as soon as they are born.

Introducing your child to MVDC from early age, dental visits will become part of their family routine and will learn that there is nothing to be afraid of, that dental visits are part of life and that they can be very pleasant.

Routine dental visit help stablish healthy dental habits from very young age, it also reduces the possibility of dental anxiety, fear or phobia later in life which can be debilitating and lead to severe problems.

We recommended that their first visit should be around the age of three, this is only for them to become familiar to our practice and our team, not dental treatment is carried out, but is more of a play and a ride on the chair. We suggest, that for your child first visit to be incorporated it with your own check-up, as seeing you have your teeth examined helps them become more relax and happy to have a ride on the chair and have their teeth examine.

Oral health is critical for your child’s growth and development, general health and self-esteem. Visiting the dentist at an early age is important in order to identify any problems in your child’s jaw growth and development as well detecting any early signs of poor oral hygiene and decay. It also helps them to develop a positive relationship with the dentist and hygienists from an early age, setting them up for a lifetime of good habits.

What’s involved in a Children’s Dentistry appointment?

We like to see children in our office at approximately 3 years old. On your child’s first visit, they will meet with the dentist, one of our dental hygienists, or an oral therapist, (who has university training on treating kids). and we make sure it is a fun adventure for them. Your child may not sit in the chair on their first visit and that is OK, trust takes time. They may feel more secure on your lap where we count their teeth together. Some children bring a teddy to join in on the fun, and most importantly we have an ample supply of stickers balloons, regards and toothbrushes to hand out which helps to ensure your child has a positive association with the dentist and hygienist especially on their first visit.

During their first appointment, we will be looking at the health of their gums, make sure teeth are coming through in the correct position and timing, we will also look and monitor their jaw and facial bones growth and development as this can indicate possible crowding of teeth, which may indicate the potential needs of orthodontic treatment in the future. We will also discuss sleep patterns, diet habits and begin educating your child about ways to maintain and keep their smile healthy and clean for life.

It is recommended that your child should have their first set of x-rays to show between their teeth when the contacts between the baby teeth close, this is a hidden area where plaque collects and decay may start.
“Why not bring your child in with you while you have your teeth cleaned. This introduces them to the dentist in a relaxed and safe environment. We will provide plenty of toys and activities to keep them occupied.

Caring for your child’s teeth

We believe that, the health of your child’s teeth is a team effort between MVDC and what happens at home. A large part of their dental health involves actively encouraging positive dental habits at home, and we do understand that depending on their age this can be challenging; hence we will have a very detail conversation with you at the end of the appointment, to guide you and give you tools so dental hygiene does not become a home battle. We recommend teaching the importance of brushing twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed, also introducing flossing as soon as their teeth develop closely together this can happen at any age, (most of the time occur between the ages of 2 and 6). We advise a diet low in sugar and fizzy drinks as well reducing the amount of snacking during the day.

When your child is around 2 years old, you can begin using a “pea” size amount of children’s toothpaste when brushing their teeth, and when the gaps between your child’s teeth close, it is important to start flossing.

Serve as a good role model by practising good oral health care habits yourself and schedule frequent dental check-ups for your family. Remember that the bacteria which cause dental decay can be transmitted between family members so make sure everyone attends their appointment to prevent decay spreading through the family, and don’t share toothbrushes.

Check your child’s mouth regularly for signs of swollen, bleeding or reddened gums.

If your child has orthodontic braces, food and bacteria can become trapped a lot more easily, this may increase their risk of decay, and they will need to be especially thorough when cleaning. It is important that your child still see our hygienist every 3 months while they are undergoing orthodontic treatment to help maintain good oral hygiene and prevent decay during this time.

Children’s Dentistry covers a wide range of services, for children, we recommend parents learn more about preventative dentistry, dental hygiene, and techniques to learn.