Paediatric dentistry

Regular dental exams for children are a critical part of preventive health care, with the most common interval being every six months. However, the dentist might recommend fewer or more-frequent visits depending on your child's risk factors for oral health problems. During a dental exam, the dentist evaluates your child's risk of tooth decay, checks tooth development, alignment and eruption. A dental exam for children might also include dental X-rays or other diagnostic procedures. At the end the dentist might polish your child's teeth to get them used to some of our dental instruments.

The aim of preventive treatment is to minimise risk for tooth decay, mainly by educating patients and their carers on oral hygiene techniques, risk factors and by applying a sealant or fluoride to tooth surfaces.

Baby teeth are important, besides being used to chew food, baby teeth help the jaw bones and facial skeleton grow properly. They also help adult teeth erupt in a timely manner. Therefore, if any teeth are decayed, the dentist will try their most to save the tooth, including fillings and root fillings. Most treatment is performed under local anaesthetic but sometimes general anaesthesia is required to achieve the best outcome.

Children need strong, healthy teeth to chew their food, speak and have a good-looking smile. What’s more, a good diet is essential for a child’s growth and development. Almost all processed foods, including some we think are healthy, have some type of sugar, which can contribute to tooth decay. If necessary, the dentist will explain how our diet can contribute to decay and can be done to prevent this.

General anaesthesia is when you are put into a deep unconscious sleep-like state. This treatment method is used for longer procedures, younger children who can not cooperate or when patients have special healthcare needs. Our paediatric anaesthetist delivers the general anaesthesia within the safe confines of a large hospital's operating suite.