The Basics of Kids Dental Care - Village Dental Clinic

Q: Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The CDBS gives eligible children aged 0–17 capped Medicare benefits for basic dental care, and Village Dental Kogarah is a bulk billing dentist for eligible children — so where treatment is covered by your child's remaining balance there is nothing to claim back. Eligibility and the remaining balance are worth checking before treatment starts; our bulk billed children's dentistry page explains who qualifies.

Quick summary

Children should start seeing a dentist around their first birthday. At that first visit the dentist checks for decay, works out your child's risk of it, shows you how to clean their teeth properly, and explains habits that affect them, such as thumb sucking and sugary drinks. Visits then continue every six months, or more often where the risk of decay is higher.

Many children aren’t excited about seeing the dentist, either as a result of comments others have made or the idea of an unknown experience. Dental visits are necessary for everyone though, beginning around the child’s first birthday. Here are some basics to know about your child’s dental care.

What happens at the first appointment?:
When your child sees the dentist for the first time, the dentist will look for tooth decay and determine your child’s risk for it. You will be shown how to properly clean your child’s teeth. Also, your dentist will explain the risks of habits that may affect your child’s teeth, such as thumb sucking or sugary drinks.

How often should my child see the dentist?:
You should continue to take your child to visit the dentist every six months, or in some cases more often if your child’s risks are high for tooth decay. Regular checkups can reduce your child’s risk for cavities because plaque will be removed and fluoride will be applied to strengthen the teeth. Also, potential dental issues may be caught early to avoid problems in the future.

What if further treatment is recommended?:
Even though your child might not have permanent teeth yet, dental work may be required on baby teeth too. Cavities can be painful and should be filled. Also, healthy baby teeth help your child properly chew, speak, and develop permanent teeth.

How can I help my child feel more comfortable?:
It is important to help your child’s dentist visits go smoothly so that lifelong habits of regular checkups without fear can be developed. You might consider choosing a paediatric dentist who specialises in children’s oral health and is trained to help kids through the dental visit. Discuss an upcoming dentist appointment with your child, and explain what to expect during the visit. If possible, take your child by the dentist’s office before your first appointment to see what it’s like. During the checkup, remain near your child to increase feelings of security and comfort.

Contact one of our dental offices Kogarah and Haymarket

Questions patients ask us about this

Do baby teeth really need to be treated?

Yes. Cavities in baby teeth can be painful and should be filled. Healthy baby teeth also let a child chew and speak properly, and they hold the space that the permanent teeth need to come through into. Leaving them because they will fall out anyway creates problems later.

How can I make dental visits easier for my child?

Talk about the appointment beforehand and explain what will happen. Take them past the practice first if you can, so the place is not unfamiliar. Stay close during the check-up. The aim is a child who grows up going to the dentist without dread, which is worth the extra effort early on.

Is my child eligible for the Child Dental Benefits Schedule?

The CDBS gives eligible children aged 0–17 capped Medicare benefits for basic dental care, and Village Dental Kogarah is a bulk billing dentist for eligible children — so where treatment is covered by your child's remaining balance there is nothing to claim back. Eligibility and the remaining balance are worth checking before treatment starts; our bulk billed children's dentistry page explains who qualifies.

Where to read more on this at Village Dental Kogarah

Reading about it only gets you so far. These are the pages that explain how our dentists in Kogarah actually treat it, and what a visit involves.

Village Dental Kogarah is at Shop 5/23-26 Station St, Kogarah NSW 2217. Eight clinicians work across our two Sydney practices, including a dental prosthetist — meet the team. We look after patients from Kogarah, Kogarah Bay, Rockdale, Bexley, Bexley North, Carlton, Allawah, Banksia, Monterey and Sans Souci. If you would like to talk it through, call (02) 9281 0007 or book a time online.

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A note on this articleThis is general information written for patients, not dental advice for your own mouth. Teeth, gums and medical histories differ, and so does what suits them, so please have a dentist examine you before deciding on any treatment. If something in your mouth is painful, bleeding or has been knocked out, ring us on (02) 9281 0007 rather than waiting.