Childrens Dentistry

What we offer

Services for the little ones

Some of the services we offer for the little ones at Helix Dental include:

• Exams: During a dental exam, our team will check your child's teeth and gums, and make recommendations for any necessary treatments.
• Fillings: If your child has a cavity, we can restore the tooth with a tooth-coloured filling.
• Sealants: Dental sealants can help reduce the risk of decay in the grooves of the back teeth. They are usually placed in a single appointment and do not normally require drilling or anaesthetic, though they wear over time and are checked at each visit.
• X-rays: X-rays can help us detect problems that may not be visible during a visual exam, and they are a valuable tool in maintaining good oral health.

At home

Looking after little teeth

Most of what protects a child's teeth happens between appointments. A few habits carry the majority of the benefit:

• Start before the first tooth. Wipe the gums with a clean, damp cloth. Once a tooth appears, brush it twice a day with a small, soft brush.
• Use the right toothpaste for their age. Guidance in Australia generally recommends water only under 18 months, a smear of low-fluoride children's toothpaste from 18 months to around six years, and standard fluoride toothpaste after that. Ask us if you are unsure which stage your child is at.
• Spit, don't rinse. Encourage spitting out rather than rinsing with water, so the fluoride stays on the teeth a little longer.
• Brush for them until they can manage it. Children usually need an adult doing or finishing the brushing until around eight years of age, when their hand control catches up.
• Watch the drinks. Water and plain milk between meals; keep juice, cordial and soft drink to occasions rather than habits. Never send a bottle of anything but water to bed.
• Clean between the teeth once two teeth are touching, since a brush cannot reach those surfaces.

Good to know

When to bring your child in sooner

Book ahead of the next routine visit if you notice a toothache that wakes your child or lingers, a white, brown or dark spot on a tooth, gums that bleed or look swollen, a tooth knocked loose or out, or an adult tooth coming through behind a baby tooth that will not fall out. A knocked-out or broken tooth is worth calling us about the same day — see emergency dental for what to do in the meantime.

If your child plays contact sport, a custom-fitted sports mouthguard is worth discussing at the same appointment. And once the adult teeth are through, we can talk about whether the bite would benefit from an orthodontic assessment. Parents are welcome to book their own general dental check-up alongside their child's so the whole family comes in together.

Building habits

Healthy habits that start early

At Helix Dental, we believe that good dental habits start early, and we're here to help your child establish a lifelong love for oral hygiene. Whether you're bringing your child in for their first clean, or you need more extensive treatments, we aim to make each visit to the dentist a positive one.

We look forward to meeting you and your little ones soon!

Risks and suitability. Children's dental treatment carries risks in the same way adult treatment does. Fillings involve removing decayed tooth structure and can leave a tooth sensitive; sealants can wear or chip and need checking; local anaesthetic can cause a numb lip or cheek that a child may bite; and X-rays involve a small dose of radiation and are taken only where there is a clinical reason. Your dentist will explain what is involved, the alternatives — including monitoring a small problem rather than treating it — and the risks that apply to your child before any treatment goes ahead. General risk information for our treatments is set out in our treatment disclaimer and risk overview.