Pediatric dentistry is carried out by a dental professional that has undergone a full-time post-graduate course in the specialty of dentistry for children. Pediatric dentists have specific training and qualifications to provide comprehensive, high-quality dental care to kids.
This affords them special knowledge about children’s psychological development, causes and treatment of oral diseases and injuries, as well as differences in the temperament and backgrounds of children. They’re trained to treat children of varying medical, physical and intellectual conditions, as well as children with behavioural challenges.
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a MediCare-run scheme that provides $1000 over two years for dental expenses, for eligible children. CDBS covers check-ups, dental cleaning, repairing cracked teeth, fillings and root canals, but doesn’t cover orthodontic treatment and some other specialised treatments.
To be eligible, children must be between 2 and 17 years old, and must be in a family that already receives other government benefits.
It’s recommended that you take your child for his/her first dentist visit when their first tooth erupts or when they reach 12 months old - whichever comes first. It’s important to get them accustomed to the dentist from an early age, and even if your child barely has any teeth yet, the dentist can make sure the gums and mouth are healthy, too.
Your dentist can help instil good habits such as brushing techniques and stopping thumb sucking, and will discuss things like how to reduce risk of decay and nutritional advice. It’s best to choose a qualified pediatric dentist who specialises in oral hygiene for kids.
The first adult teeth typically emerge between the ages of 6 and 10 - and this is the time your dentist will determine if you need to take your child to see an orthodontist. An orthodontist specialises in detecting and fixing issues such as overbites, misalignments and crowded teeth, which can start to show once adult teeth emerge.
Your child’s first visit to the orthodontist will involve an X-ray and a thorough examination of their teeth, mouth, gums and jaw. There will also be a discussion of whether braces may be needed and if so, your dentist can provide more information and a treatment plan.
