Paediatric Dentistry

When should the first visit be?

Within six months of the first tooth appearing, and by the first birthday at the latest. The purpose is not treatment but introduction: seeing the chair, holding the mirror, meeting the dentist. If a child's first encounter with a dentist happens during a painful emergency, the fear settles that day and lasts for years.

Why decay in milk teeth matters

"They'll fall out anyway" is common and wrong. Milk teeth serve chewing, speech and — crucially — hold space for the permanent teeth. A primary molar lost early lets the tooth behind drift forward, so the permanent tooth has nowhere to erupt; orthodontic treatment may then be needed.

Deep decay in a milk tooth can also affect the permanent tooth germ developing beneath it.

Preventive care

Fissure sealants

The grooves on the chewing surface of permanent molars are too narrow for a brush to reach. These surfaces are sealed with a flowable material. The procedure is painless, needs no anaesthesia and takes a few minutes.

Fluoride application

Fluoride raises the resistance of enamel to acid. The high-concentration varnish applied in the clinic does not replace fluoride toothpaste at home; the two work together.

Diet and brushing habits

A child cannot clean their teeth well enough alone until around age seven or eight. Until then a parent should finish the evening brushing. Milk or juice given in a bottle at night is the most common cause of the rapidly progressing decay known as bottle caries.

How we work with children

Children's appointments are scheduled for the morning, when they are rested. The procedure is explained in age-appropriate language (tell-show-do). We do not force, mislead, or make promises we cannot keep such as "it won't hurt at all"; once trust is broken it is very hard to win back.

Where cooperation is not possible because of severe anxiety or very young age, sedation options are assessed separately and discussed with the family.

This page is general information and does not replace a dental examination. Whether the treatment suits you, and the method and duration, are decided only after an intraoral examination and radiographic assessment.