Children’s Dentists In Brisbane: What To Consider When Picking a Dentist For Your Little One
When Do Baby Teeth Emerge
Baby Teeth Or Milk Teeth
The first baby tooth appears when your little child is about 6 months old. Your child will typically get all their baby teeth when they are about 3 years old.
Your child’s dental health is important before the teeth emerge in the child’s mouth. Parents or caregivers should clean their child’s gums with a moist washcloth to remove bacteria from their mouths and prepare them for future oral hygiene habits.
Why Are Your Child’s Teeth Important?
Young children need their primary teeth for good oral health and dental development. Your child needs their first teeth for smiling, pronouncing words correctly, proper chewing, and eating.
Baby teeth are also important because they keep the space in your child’s mouth for their future permanent teeth. If a child loses their primary teeth too early, the adult teeth will shift in the empty space.
Premature loss of the child’s teeth can lead to future oral health issues like crooked or crowded teeth. Young children may lose their teeth due to poor dental health, tooth decay, cavities, or trauma.
How Do I Choose A Paediatric Dentist In Brisbane?
Consider these factors before choosing a paediatric dentist inBrisbane.
Experience and Credentials
Ensure the paediatric dentist you want to choose has sufficient experience working with children and is board-certified. Gain some information about their credentials and specialisations.
You may decide to ask about the number of years they have worked with young children to ensure your child is in good hands. However, we recommend an experienced dentist who continues their training and tries to keep themselves up-to-date.
Using the latest technique and methodology in dental practice can significantly decrease the risks of dental procedures.
Talk To Other Parents
Ask other parents if they suggest an excellent paediatric dentist.
You may benefit from other parents’ opinions about their experience with the paediatric dentist you may want to choose. You can ask them to give you some insights about their child’s first dental appointment.
You can ask questions about their child’s visits or how friendly and experienced the dentist was.
Read Reviews About The Paediatric Dentist
The effects of word of mouth referrals cannot be underestimated. Reading different reviews online may also give you a better idea about the dentist you have in mind. You can google the name of the children’s dentist and read other people’s reviews about them.
Coming across one or two negative comments is typically normal and shouldn’t affect your judgement.
What Is Their Office Like?
The importance of healthy teeth may be obvious for adults, but how about children? Children will usually get nervous and stressed out by the idea of going to the dentist. That’s why an interesting and child-friendly dental clinic can go a long way in making them feel safe.
An engaging, kid-friendly environment can affect how your child feels during dental visits. A welcoming office with a warm or exciting waiting room makes the child feel comfortable and takes the edge off fear or anxiety.
You can google the name of the paediatric dental office and see if they have photos of the clinic.
An Initial Consultation
Visiting the office in person and talking to the dentist can put your mind at ease.
It also gives you the opportunity to analyse the atmosphere of the clinic and the dentist’s qualifications and approach. You can also talk to the dentist about your concerns or expectations from the visit; inform the dentist if your child has special needs or has dental anxiety. You can also ask for the dentist’s recommendation on how to prepare your child for their first visit.
This consultation session can help you decide whether or not to begin treatment with the dentist.
When Should You Arrange Your Child’s First Dental Visit?
At What Age Should A Child Have Their First Dental Appointment?
Paediatric dentists encourage parents to schedule their child’s first dental visit as soon as the child gets their first tooth to prevent tooth decay.
Children’s teeth have weaker tooth enamel, so they are more at risk of tooth decay from the beginning.
Arrange your child’s first visit with a kids dentist at an early age and not later than their first birthday so that they can have lifelong healthy teeth. Regular dental visits can also ensure your child’s proper dental development. Your child’s next dental checkup can be between 3 to 3.5 years old.
Paediatric Dentistry vs General Dentistry
Why Should I Take My Child To A Paediatric Dentist Brisbane?
While all dentists will help you achieve a healthy smile, choosing the right dentist can make a significant difference, especially for your child’s oral health.
Both a general dentist and a children’s dentist treat dental issues, but their focus and areas of expertise are different. A general dentist in Brisbane typically provides dental services for adults and focuses mainly on treating permanent teeth.
A family dentist is usually a general dentist who provides dental treatment for adults and children. Family dentists will provide dental treatment for you and your children during the same dental visit.
ATTENTION: Ask family dentists if they provide dental care for children who have not yet reached elementary.
As the name suggests, in children’s dentistry, the main focus of a paediatric dentist in Brisbane is to provide dental care services for children. A paediatric dentist or children’s dentist treats children and their dental health issues and focuses on taking care of a child’s teeth and oral health.
But that’s not the only difference between general dentists and a kids dentist!
Most children get nervous and sometimes hard to control in unknown environments or whenever they feel threatened. A children’s dentist has the necessary knowledge and patience to make the child feel safe, comfortable, and cooperative in a dental clinic.
Moreover, paediatric dentists may be more qualified to get children to practise excellent oral health as they know how to approach difficult children. A kids dentist has completed additional years of training in child psychology and development, clinical management, dental care for children with special needs, and sedation or anesthesia.
Children’s dentistry usually involves the “Tell-Show-Do” technique. Tell the child what the tool is. Show them the tool. Use the tool.
Does your child have dental phobia or dental anxiety? Here are some helpful tips: Kids’ Fear Of Dentist
Common Dental Problems In Children’s Dentistry
Dental health issues can occur for primary teeth or permanent teeth. Children’s poor oral hygiene can lead to dental health problems such as:
- Dental decay
- Loss of primary tooth at an early age (premature loss of a baby tooth)
- An over-retained baby tooth
- Excessive thumb sucking
- Bad Breath
- Tooth sensitivity
- Teeth grinding
- Canker sores or ulcers
Oral Hygiene Tips For Children
Parents or caregivers play an essential role in improving their children’s overall well-being. Starting oral hygiene at a very young age is vital for proper overall health.
- Clean your child’s gums with a soft clean washcloth twice a day.
- Schedule their first dental visit as soon as they get their primary teeth.
- Purchase a child-sized toothbrush with soft bristles and brush your child’s teeth twice daily.
- Ask your child’s dentist about the appropriate time to use fluoridated toothpaste for your child. You can also read this article: When can I use toothpaste for my child?
- Limit your child’s sugary snack intake to prevent dental decay.
- Ask the dentist if they have any dietary advice for your child’s dental health.
- Let your child brush their teeth if interested; however, observe them and make sure they are brushing correctly.
- Inform the dentist if you do not know how to deal with your child’s excessive thumb sucking.
FYI: Excessive thumb sucking can comprise your child’s attractive smile and increase the risk of orthodontic issues in the future.
Looking for an Experienced Pediatric Dentist in Brisbane?
Our Brisbane paediatric dentists believe in preventive dentistry and beginning children’s oral hygiene when they get their first teeth.
Dr Soha is a dentist for children in Brisbane who is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry, the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, and the Australian Dental Association.
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