Children's Dentistry

We encourage parents to introduce children to the dentist from an early age, ideally once their first teeth begin to appear. Early appointments are often very simple. The aim is to help your child become familiar with the dental environment, allow us to monitor their developing teeth and give you practical preventive advice.

Starting early can help dental visits become a normal part of life rather than something introduced only when there is a problem.

That depends largely on their age and confidence. For a young child, a successful first visit may simply involve meeting the team, becoming familiar with the room and allowing us to have a gentle look at their teeth. As they become more comfortable, appointments can gradually include a more complete examination and age-appropriate oral-health advice. We won’t rush your child simply to complete a checklist.

There isn’t one interval that’s appropriate for every child. How frequently we’d like to see your child will depend on factors such as their age, dental development, oral health and individual risk of tooth decay. Following their examination, we’ll recommend an appropriate recall interval for them.

Children should be encouraged to take an active role in brushing as they grow, but the ability to clean effectively develops at different ages. Parents will usually need to brush or supervise for some time after a child wants to brush independently. We’ll help you assess how well your child is managing and show both of you areas that may need more attention.

Fluoride toothpaste plays an important role in helping protect children’s teeth from decay, but the appropriate fluoride concentration and amount of toothpaste depend on your child’s age and individual needs. We can advise you on an appropriate toothpaste and how much to use at your child’s appointment. I prefer this to hard-coding detailed fluoride concentrations into your website, which can become outdated or be misapplied.

Twice-daily brushing with fluoride toothpaste, appropriate parental supervision and sensible eating and drinking habits provide the foundation of prevention. In particular, reducing how frequently teeth are exposed to sugary foods and drinks can help reduce the risk of decay. Regular dental examinations allow us to monitor your child’s teeth and provide additional preventive advice or treatment where appropriate.

Fluoride varnish is a concentrated fluoride treatment that may be applied to the teeth to help strengthen enamel and reduce the risk of decay. Fissure sealants are thin protective coatings that can be placed over the grooves of certain back teeth, where food and plaque can otherwise be difficult to remove. Neither is automatically required for every child. We’ll recommend preventive treatment according to your child’s individual needs.

Yes. Children can feel unsure about unfamiliar places, particularly if they’ve previously had a difficult dental experience. We take a calm, gradual approach and give children time to become familiar with the environment and our team. We’ll explain things simply, avoid unnecessary pressure and work at a pace appropriate for your child. If your child is particularly anxious, please let us know before the appointment so we can plan their visit accordingly.

Contact us as soon as possible so that we can understand what has happened and advise on the appropriate next step. If a permanent tooth has been completely knocked out, urgent dental attention is important. Handle it by the crown rather than the root and keep it moist while seeking care. Do not attempt to reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth, as this can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath.

As children’s adult teeth emerge and their jaws develop, we monitor how their teeth and bite are forming. If we identify crowding, bite concerns or another aspect of development that may benefit from orthodontic assessment, we’ll explain what we’ve noticed and advise on the appropriate timing for further review. Not every irregularity requires treatment, and the right timing varies from child to child.