Children's Dentistry
Cosmetic, Dental & Hygiene
Improve | Brighten | Maintain | Smile
COSMETIC & GENERAL DENTISTRY | BALWYN NORTH
Children's Dentistry
Cosmetic, Dental & Hygiene
Improve | Brighten | Maintain | Smile
BEAUTIFUL DENTAL CARE | BALWYN
A dentist for kids of Balwyn
Kids dentistry | At a glance
Age: 3-4 years
30 mins
Fun and easy
Exam, Clean
Top Questions
What happens at the first visit?
Why are kids teeth important?
What is a sports mouthguard?
How should I prepare my child for a dental visit?
What is a fissure sealant?
Children's dentistry overview
The whole iDental team love seeing our younger patients and caring for their oral health. Bringing your children in with you to your appointment helps familiarise them with our practice environment so they’ll be more relaxed when having their check-up. Dr. D’Anna has children herself, and understands the importance of patience, care and the extra TLC that children need.
General Dental, Prevention and Fillings
Having regular check and cleans is important as children develop their oral cleaning habits, and whilst their bite is developing. Aside from this, children are able to learn that dental visits can be fun, and they get to know the iDental team, just like we are family.
When dental work is needed, we show a lot of care, and always explain in simple terms to the child, what we are doing, why we are doing it and how it will feel. We are very comfortable placing sealants in children's teeth when needed, and are happy to provide sports mouthguards. We also participate in the Child Dental Benefits Scheme (CDBS).
Preparing for the first dental visit
Great dental health begins at an early age, and it is important that the whole family have good hygiene. The iDental team are a kids friendly dentist, looking after kids as young as three, all the way to older adults.
Preparing your child for the dentist should be easy. Talk to them about the "Tooth Fairy helper" that is going to count their teeth. It is important not to use words that might trigger some anxiety. We talk about polishing teeth to make them shiny, and that we are going to count how many teeth they have. Ask them to guess what the number might be, and play along, that the tooth fairy helper will be able to count.
What happens at the first visit?
Step One - Introduction
We know that the dental room can look overwhelming for children, as there are masked staff and some unfamiliar dental equipment. But your child will be the star of the room!
When they first come in, we will introduce ourselves and talk to them about their day. We might ask them some simple questions, like have they lost a tooth, or do they know how many teeth they have. We want to make the visit as fun as we can, and remove the potential hesitation they have in helping us look after them.
Step Two - The ride!
One of the coolest things in our dental room is the dental chair itself! Believe it or not, kids love to be taken on a ride in the dental chair. They love to sit back and go up and down for a ride in the chair.
All our dental chairs have overhead TVs, and kids channels are programmed in to keep them entertained we perform our job. If your child is still anxious through all of this, we can ask that you or a sibling ride in the chair with them. The first visit is really about breaking down barriers, so whatever it takes!
Step Three - Counting teeth
The first visit for your child should be easy. We would love them to love their time with us. We aim to perform some basic checks. These include:
+ Counting the teeth
+ Checking for holes
+ Checking for oral hygiene habits
+ Look at the bite and breathing
All of these little checks are important to make sure that your child is functioning well, has no growth concerns and has a healthy mouth.
Step Four - Bonus Bits
At iDental, our dentists will work with your child and their level of comfort. If your child is working well with us and their first introduction to dentistry is going well, we will also aim to perform some basic dental procedures. This might be an "electric tooth polish" with pleasantly flavoured toothpastes. Our toothpaste flavours vary from time to time, but we often have bubblegum, tutti fruity and strawberry selections. Some kids will love this part, other kids need some time. Whatever happens, we want to make this visit a good start.
Fissure sealants
Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your teeth from dental decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
The process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only a few minutes. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and sets hard, by shining a bright light onto it.
Child Benefits Scheme
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) is a dental assistance program for eligible children aged 2 to 17 years. It provides cover of up to $1000 over a two-year period for basic dental services, including examinations, X‐rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals, extractions and partial dentures.
The rebate is available to children whose families receive relevant Australian Government payments.
iDental actively participates in this scheme to assist the eligible families with their dental costs.
Sports mouthguards
A mouthguard is a thick, often spongy shield that fits over your teeth. Mouthguards are usually worn during sports and other activities that involve a high risk of impact to the face.
Custom made sports mouthguard provide the right spacing and cushioning over your teeth, when compared to over-the-counter guards. This means that you will have the right protection for your teeth. We have a range of thicknesses available, based on the intensity of the sport being played, and also the age of the person requiring the mouthguard.
They can be helpful outside of sports too. For instance, you might need to use a specialised mouthguard for jaw issues or teeth grinding. Dentists at iDental sometimes use special types of mouthguards to help treat snoring or sleep apnoea as well.
Can I claim a mouthguard on private insurance or CDBS?
Yes! A mouthguard is considered an essential prevention appliance.
How do I get a mouthguard fitted?
At iDental, we will take a digital impression of your teeth. You pick the mouthguard colour and we do the rest. There are no putty impressions, so this is easy for kids. The mouthguard takes around one week to make.
What are the benefits of a custom made mouthguard?
A custom made mouthguard should:+ Fit snugly and be comfortable
+ Allow normal breathing and swallowing
+ Allow the wearer to speak
+ Be odourless and tasteless
+ Be thick enough (4mm) to provide protection against impact.
How do I look after a sports mouthguard?
Take the mouthguard along to your dental visits to ensure it still fits correctly. A mouthguard may need to be replaced as changes occur in your mouth, such as the eruption of permanent teeth or restorations. Mouthguards need to be rinsed in cold water before use. After use, dry and store in a plastic container with air vents to allow the air to circulate. Once in a while, clean it with soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
Let's meet
If you need to book your child in for a dental check-up and clean in Melbourne, or require some advice about their teeth or oral health, we’d love to chat. Rest assured, we’re here to listen and understand. We are committed to taking the necessary time to look after their dental needs in a patient and fun environment, to make their visit a positive experience.
Dental fun for kids
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iDental | Balwyn
HOURS | Mon - Thurs 9-6 | Fri 9-1
FIND US | 3 BELMORE RD, BALWYN NORTH VIC 3104