Children’s dentistry

We love welcoming children to Richmond Road Dental and setting them on a pathway towards excellent lifelong oral health.

People sometimes wonder why children need dental treatment when their baby teeth eventually fall out. There are many important reasons to introduce your child to the dentist in early childhood.

Baby teeth have an important role to play in every child’s development

Baby (primary) teeth are important as a child learns to eat solid foods, talk, and interact with others. They also act as guides for the underlying adult teeth to come through. 

If baby teeth are lost early due to decay, the child may experience:

  • issues with speech and function
  • eventual crowding of the adult teeth 
  • failure of their eruption as adult teeth ‘lose their way’ without their primary tooth ‘goalpost’. 

It can be helpful if developing issues are caught and corrected early, so we encourage children to have their first dental visits when they are very young.

Fostering positive vibes about dental health

Dental appointments should be an enjoyable part of a healthy oral hygiene routine. Unfortunately, some parents allow their own dental fears to sow the seeds of dental anxiety in their children.

It is confusing and scary for a child to be told:

  • they need to be ‘brave’ when they visit the dentist
  • a visit to the dentist is a ‘punishment’ for not brushing well or having dental decay
  • it won’t (or will) hurt when they visit the dentist.

We encourage families to talk about dental care as a positive experience and a trip to look forward to. If you are concerned that your dental anxiety might sully your child’s experience, please speak to one of our dentists for some advice. 

Many great resources are available to familiarise your family with what to expect at the dentist, so we encourage you to explore these well before your first dental visit. 

What happens in the first appointment?

The first visit is typically used to acclimate the child to the dental environment. Many little ones enjoy a ride up and down in the dental chair on a parent’s lap. We look for signs of tongue-tie or other impediments to normal oral development.

The first visit is an excellent opportunity for parents to ask questions about their child’s teeth and how to care for them. Your dentist can provide guidance on tooth-friendly foods and beverages, teething, thumb sucking, and the use of pacifiers.

Your dentist will also provide information about cleaning your child’s teeth. 

The Australian Dental Association recommends that all children visit the dentist when their first tooth emerges and no later than 12 months of age.

What happens in dental appointments when children are older?

As they grow older, our littlest patients gain confidence being in the dental chair by themselves. We’ll ask the child if we can count their teeth and use a mirror to show them how clean and strong their teeth are. Many children follow our instructions beautifully, allowing us to examine how their teeth bite together. 

These appointments are often great fun, and every child goes home with a new age-appropriate toothbrush and other items to encourage home-based tooth care.

Some children need interventions like: 

Many children enjoy sharing their dental appointments, so we offer family check-up appointments for siblings.

While waiting for their dentist, children can colour in, choose a book to read, or play with our selection of toys.

Important to know

  • This page contains general information about children’s dentistry. It cannot replace individualised advice from your dental practitioner. Please consult your dentist for specific recommendations about your oral health and necessary treatments.

Let’s set your children on the path of lifelong oral health.

If your little ones are due for a check-up or you have any concerns about their oral health, please contact our friendly reception team to make an appointment.

Call us on 07 3399 6988 Visit us at 251 Richmond Road, Morningside, QLD 4170
A group photo of the Richmond Road Dental team

Resources about children’s oral health

Learn more about children’s dental health

Videos about children’s oral health

Explaining infant oral hygiene

A short animated video from the Australian Dental Association. (Playing time: 1 minute, 24 seconds)

Tips for soothing discomfort from teething

A short animated video from the Australian Dental Association. (Playing time: 45 seconds)

Downloadable fact sheets about children’s oral health

Download these helpful information sheets

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